Safe Play on Playgrounds

Play it Safe on Playgrounds this Summer: Safety Tips to Teach Your Kids

March 30, 2021Team QuantumPlaygroundsLeave a comment

Each year, more than 200,000 kids visit hospital emergency rooms for playground-related injuries. Learn what to look for in playground design and equipment and how to teach your kids about playing safely.

Inspect Playground Design and Equipment

  1. Select age-appropriate play equipment. Because sizes and proportions differ, playground equipment should be suited to your child’s age, whether they’re toddlers or school age. Designating separate areas keeps everyone safer. Use playground equipment that is good for your child’s age and that your child can reach and climb on their own. Preschool-age children and school-age children need different types of playground equipment.
  2. Look for absorbent surfaces. Absorbent surfaces reduce injuries from falls. You want soft materials that will cushion an impact. Some of the best options are loosely packed wood chips, mulch, pea gravel, and sand or synthetics like rubber mats.
  3. Ensure the equipment is well maintained. All equipment should be anchored into the ground firmly, and nuts and bolts should be tight and covered. Beware of rusted metals, splintering wood or any jagged edges or open hooks that could catch on clothing.
  4. Calculate safe spacing. Allowing for plenty of clearance will reduce accidents. See that swings are at least 2 feet apart and 6 feet away from any wall or fence. All platforms should be less than 12 feet high.
  5. Take special care with moving equipment. Equipment with moving parts, like seesaws and carousels, belong in separate areas of the playground. Be vigilant around pinch points where a child’s fingers can catch.
  6. Don’t wear scarves, clothing with drawstrings or other cords, helmets. These items of clothing can cause choking if they get wrapped around a child’s neck.
  7. Check the playground for any loose parts of playground equipment, strong handrails and barriers, broken pieces of glass, or other sharp objects before letting your child play.
  8. Report safety concerns to the appropriate authority. Familiarize yourself with whoever handles the playground’s upkeep, whether it’s a local government, school or private organization. If you see a hazard, warn others to keep away and report the issue immediately.

Teach Your Kids How to Play Safely

  1. Actively supervise your child by staying close enough, enabling you to take action if needed.
  2. Require kids to use the equipment as intended. Even well-designed equipment needs some cooperation from the user. Show kids how to stay inside the guardrails, use the slide feet first, and sit facing each other on seesaws. Many devices are built for one kid at a time, so keep it that way.
  3. Point out safety features. Help kids understand the importance of guardrails and protective barriers on elevated platforms and ramps. Discuss how the hood on a slide reminds you to sit down and plastic slides stay cooler than the metal versions.
  4. Encourage caution when climbing. Falling causes almost 70% of playground injuries, so climbing merits special attention. Practice falling so your kids learn to land on both feet with their knees bent. Using both hands and keeping far behind the person in front of you are also important measures.
  5. Rule out roughhousing. Use your playground outings to show the benefits of taking turns and sharing. Discourage shoving, pushing or fighting.
  6. Enforce safe distances. Praise your kids for being observant of their surroundings and standing back from any equipment when it’s in use. Make it a habit to check that there are no other kids at the bottom of the slide before descending. Pick a path that creates a wide berth between you and the swing set.

Keeping your kids safe on the playground will let them enjoy the fresh air and fun with less risk of injury. Playing alongside your kids is a great way to check out their play areas, provide adequate supervision, and share the good times.

Support an Adult Fitness Tax Deduction

March 23, 2021Team QuantumFitnessLeave a comment

The fitness industry was hit hard by the pandemic, affecting everyone’s physical and mental health. With the health measures and social distancing in place, gym-goers significantly dropped between 20% – 40%. As COVID-19 lingers, this could continue to affect our health and wellness if no action were taken.

The proposed Adult Fitness Tax Deduction Bill is an excellent way to address this concern. Quantum Recreation is encouraging everyone to support the new Bill, which aims to help Canadians invest in their health & fitness and reinforce their support for the industry and local fitness centres.

The federal government is currently reviewing the Fitness Tax Deduction, and a decision is expected to be made by early April. This is the perfect time to show your support and make this successful. You could save between 15% – 33% on your membership dues annually if the bill gained enough support. This could also help save billions of dollars in potential health-care costs in the long run.

Let us show support for the fitness industry! Contact your local MP and ask them to support an adult fitness deduction. Just follow the simple steps below.

Step 1. Find your Local MP. Search in the Members of Parliament directory for your local MP. Just enter your postal code in the search bar and it will show your current MP. On their profile page, click the contact tab and copy their email address.

Step 2. Contact your MP via email. Now you just need to send them a brief message expressing your support for the Adult Fitness Tax Deduction. We’ve crafted a sample where you can pattern your message.

Dear Mr./Ms. (Last Name), MP:

This pandemic has taken a serious toll on the fitness industry. We can address this issue by advocating for the new Federal Adult Fitness Tax Deduction.

Exercise plays a key role in the physical and mental health aspects of one’s life. In Canada, fitness activity is currently at an alarmingly low level. We are all familiar with the benefits of being physically active. It lowers your risk for developing several commonly occurring health and mental illnesses and improves the quality of life, in general. It will provide even more benefits by reducing healthcare costs in the country in the future.

I strongly believe that fitness services should be considered as medical expenses. Our current situation with the pandemic is making this clear now than ever. The outbreak forced fitness and gym owners to close their businesses. With limited access to fitness services, Canadians are also losing motivation and commitment to their wellness as this pandemic drags on.

(Add more information about how the pandemic has impacted your fitness activities.)

The proposal to include fitness services as a tax deduction and claimed as a medical expense is now being considered for the 2021 budget. This tax deduction will not only support the health of Canadians but will also help to rebuild the fitness industry and the economy. Regarding this, I am appealing to you to consider advocating for this bill as part of the solution to our current healthcare and economic crisis.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

(Your Name)
(Contact Information)

New Measures on the Step 2 of the Path Forward

Key Takeaways From The Town Hall With Alberta Health Representatives (Step 2)

March 16, 2021Team QuantumQ_recreation InformationLeave a comment

The ARPA organized a Town Hall with Alberta Health representatives to clarify and answer questions on the new measures of Step 2 of the Path Forward.

Some of the Step 2 updates that came into effect on March 1st were the further easement of indoor fitness activities and libraries’ restrictions. Libraries are now allowed at 15% capacity. Fitness activities with low-intensity exercises or low-intensity group fitness are also now permitted. The order for high-intensity activity from Step 1 is still in effect with the one-on-one training consideration. There is a different guidance for sporting activities. The indoor fitness guidelines should not be used for team sports.

Some of the leading indicators showed a slight indication of spread resulting in caution in the Step 2 easement. Ease of restrictions on other items was later given on the second week of March. These are easements for banquet halls, community halls, conference centres, hotels, collegiate sport and recreation activities. Additional easements for performance and recreation activities and community easements for retail up to 25% capacity are also included in Step 2.

Further clarifications on the new measures were discussed. To effectively assess each case, the intention should be clear. Is it for fitness or training?

  • In an aquatic environment, low-intensity fitness at 3 metres distance to other people or low-intensity fitness group at 3 metres apart in a class setting is permitted. There is a requirement, however, to wear masks. No exceptions. The sector is advised to design a program and make it low intensity with minimum splashing and doesn’t require the head to get underwater. One of the parameters considered was permanent walled-off areas, with their own space and ventilation. It is the ideal setup in a facility. Facility operators can also consult their local health inspector and talk about what might work in their facility.
  • Community halls are open for the activities that are permitted. Youth-based recreation programs, wedding ceremonies and funeral ceremonies can take place. From a recreation perspective, guides, scouts, 4-H groups can have their group activity. This easement is not intended for a workplace to book a meeting. Where possible, it should be done virtually. It is still not a good time to bring people together.
  • For the distinction between high intensity and low intensity, note the risk. The heavier and harder the breathing is, the more risk there is. By definition, “Low-intensity fitness includes activities not focused specifically on cardio, which have a low depth and rate of respiration.” Normally, if you are out of breath doing the activity, it’s high intensity, but it depends on the individual. Hence, it is not just the facility operators, but the accountability is in all of us in making sure the recent guidelines are followed.
  • Minimal time in dressing rooms is still advised. Anytime that can minimize those shared spaces would be better. For an indoor group fitness setting, there is no max of 10 in a room. The restriction will be how many people can get in the room with the appropriate distancing of 3 metres. Also, a face shield is not a substitute for masks.
  • In cases where an animal welfare issue is involved, like horseback riding, the activity is not permitted considering the idea of sport. But exercising the horse could go.

Most of the time, it always comes down to the intent and the age group. If it’s a permitted activity, it can take place in any setting unless stated otherwise. Next is intent and then the age group. The Alberta Health representatives are always monitoring the leading indicators to make sure trends are not moving in the wrong direction. You may refer to the Town Hall recording and the Enhanced Public Health Measures for additional information on the new measures of Step 2.