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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Public Health and Safety>Injury Prevention |
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Childhood and Recreational Injuries
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my 8 year old have to wear a bike helmet? When should a helmet be replaced? Is it safe to use a second hand helmet? What standards of bike helmets are recommended for use in Canada? Are baby walkers banned in Canada? How hot should my child's bath water be? Is it safe to leave my child unattended in a baby bath seat? How do I know if my children's products are safe? Q: Does my 8 year old have to wear a bike helmet? In Ontario it is the law that all bicycle riders under the age of 18 wear a properly fitted and secured helmet. The minimum fine for not wearing a helmet or for permitting your child to ride without a helmet is $55. Q: When should a helmet be replaced? If your helmet has been involved in a crash, if there are any cracks on the helmet, or the fit has changed, you should buy a new helmet. Otherwise, helmets should be replaced based on the manufacturer's guidelines. Q: Is it safe to use a second hand helmet? It is not a good idea to use a second hand helmet. You may not know if the helmet has been in a crash or how old it is. Q: What standards of bike helmets are recommended for use in Canada? Safety standards approved by provincial bike helmet laws include: Canadian Standard Association (CAN/CSA D113.2-M89), Snell Memorial Foundation (Snell B90, Snell B90S, or Snell N94), American National Standard Institute (ANSI Z90.4-1984), American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTMF1447-94), British Standards Institute (BS6863:1989), Standards Association of Australia (AS2063.2-1990). Check the inside of the helmet for stickers from one or more of these organizations. Q: Are baby walkers banned in Canada? Baby walkers were banned in Canada on April 7, 2004. The ban is on the sale, advertisement and importation of baby walkers in Canada. This includes the sale of second hand and new walkers sold through flea markets, garage sales and thrift stores. Q: How hot should my child's bath water be? Hot water can burn like fire! Always check the temperature of your child's bath before bathing them. Ideally the water should be around 37°C (98.6° F). Hot water burns can be prevented. Mixing valves can be installed to reduce the temperature of the water from all of your hot water taps. For more information visit Ontario Building Code Changes: Plumbing Fixtures and Hot Water Temperature. Q: Is it safe to leave my child unattended in a baby bath seat? Baby bath seats and products called bath rings are not safety devices and are not safe. Babies have drowned when left unattended for a brief time in a bath seat. It happens when the suction cups on the bath seat came loose and the bath seat tips over, or when the baby slips through the leg openings, or when the baby is able to climb out of the bath seat. Supervise children in the bath tub at all times and keep them in sight and within reach. Do not rely on a bath seat to ensure the safety of a baby in a bath tub. If you have to leave the room for any reason, take the baby with you. Q: How do I know if my children's products are safe? Under the Hazardous Products Act certain products are required to meet specific safety regulations. Health Canada's Product Safety program enforces regulations under this law. Children's products including cribs, strollers, baby gates, playpens and toys are regulated. Always check the labels of new or used products to see if they meet current standards and regulations. Used products may pose a concern if standards or regulations have changed. Further information on product safety can be found on the Health Canada website. For more information, please contact
York Region Health Connection at 1 800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933 |
