aimed at ages 12 - 14. Candace also presented Just Because...Hythe Regional Junior High School a cheque for

Candace Carnahan likes to say the first step to $1000 for winning the NAOSH School Contest. not getting hurt is knowing you can be. Candace Hythe had the highest percentage of was working at a paper mill for the summer, participation in this years display contest August 1999, with only a few weeks left before between area junior and senior high schools. she returned to the University of New Brunswick, where she was studying psychology. On this particular day, Candace took an often used shortcut and crossed over a conveyor belt system that ran through the mill. Her left foot got caught in the conveyor system and the lower part of her left leg was crushed. Amputation was the only option. “The reason I walked over the belt and took the shortcut was because other people did it,” says Candace. “It was simply because everyone else did it.” Safe Communities sponsored Candace to come to Grande Prairie to promote the Passport to Safety program being taught in area junior high schools. Passport to Safety is an online young worker safety test

basis. Safety City is currently under Provincial Government construction with initial ground work

Funding for Safety City completed by the County of Grande Prairie Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, No. 1. A crew from ATCO will be on site next Lindsay Blackett presented the Safety City to complete the shallow utility servicing Committee a cheque for $500,000.00 on followed by the paving of the roads and

Wednesday, pouring of the concrete sidewalks.June 10th. Foundations will be ready for kiosk deliveries Funding was in August. Meetings with various community provided from businesses continue regarding leasing a kiosk the Major lot or choosing a naming sponsorship Community opportunity like naming a street. Thank you Facilities to our confirmed Kiosks to date; New Horizon Program Co-operative Ltd, Tim Hortons, City of (MCFP), Grande Prairie, Monarch Homes and the which was a 2 Grande Prairie & District Burn Society. year $280 Thank you also to the many community million lottery business supporters that have sponsored a funded naming opportunity within Safety City.

program that helped municipalities, not-for- Please see our website for a complete listing. profit organizations and Aboriginal Programming meetings are underway with Communities plan, upgrade or build major Protective Services and other interested public-use facilities that enhance community organizations. Watch for Grand Opening life. Funds were provided on a matching events happening this Fall!

Summer Issue 2009

In this Issue...

Provincial Funding................1

Just Because.........1

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day...........2

June Raffle Winner................3

Cooling Thoughts!............4

Facility Rental...4

10318 92 StreetGrande Prairie, AB

T8V 5K9P: 780-402-2818F: 780-402-6818E: admin@gpsafecommunities.com

Charitable Registration#

867098246RR0001Candace Carnahan visited Harry Balfour, Peace Wapiti Academy and Hythe Regional Junior High School on June 2nd.

www.gpsafecommunities.com

Upcoming Events and

Dates to Remember

·Car Seat Clinic; July 17th, 9am - 12:30pm at the Safe Communities Building

·Summer Holidays! Watch out for children playing and riding bikes! Stay safe around water at the pool, river or lake!

·September opening of Safety City!

Did you Know?

sSpencer Dorscheid was the winner of our draw at this years Peace Country Classic Agri Show at the Evergreen Park TEC Centre in March.

sWe received over 370 completed surveys in this years draw.s40% of 10 year olds surveyed are using a push lawn mower.s83% of 13 year olds surveyed are riding Adult-sized ATV’s.sMore than 50% of all age categories have swam or played near a dugout.sDo you know the hazards on your farm or acreage?sTeach children to make informed decisions to stay safe!

Students attempted to climb a slippery slope that Harry Balfour Students resembles the steepness of a dugout slope and learned that dugouts are not a safe place to play. attend 1st Progressive The Grade 5 and 6 students practiced working a

Agriculture Safety Day fire extinguisher on a simulated fire and are now June 3rd and 4th were fun filled days of learning armed with the knowledge of how an for over 225 students in Grades 3 - 6 from Harry extinguisher works and how to aim at the base Balfour School. Harry Balfour students were and use a sweeping motion. Other stations chosen to participate in Safe Communities 1st included priceless information on electrical safety, Progressive Agriculture Safety Day because of the lawn mower safety, ATV safety, first aid, safe percentage of students that live on area farms and animal handling and brain injury awareness. Safe acreages. Communities will be applying for funding to host

another Safety Day next spring and are looking These students are experiencing the real life forward to inviting another area school next year.challenge of staying safe while surrounded by Comments from students and parents:extra hazards that children living in the city don’t “I never knew that...” “I don’t think I should drive necessarily deal with on a daily basis. The Safety my Dad’s quad.” “I have taught for 24 years and Day had students rotate through 9 different Safety this was the most organized field trip I’ve ever Stations where a qualified instructor spent 20 been involved with.” “You don’t realize you take minutes involving the children in hands on things for granted until you are reminded again!”activities dealing with the specific topic. At the

Chemical Station, the students were trying to tell the difference between windex and blue gatorade in an unmarked bottle - almost impossible!

aCity of Grande Prairie Fire DepartmentThank you to our Progressive aCN Rail

Agriculture Safety Day aCostco WholesaleaCrime PreventionSponsors & PresentersaCulligan

aAB AgricultureaEnerflex

aAlberta Health Services - Addiction aGrande Prairie & District Burn Society

& Mental HealthaHarry Balfour School Staff & Parents

aAlberta Health Services - EMSaNew Horizon Co-operative Ltd

aAlberta Health Services - Health PromotionaPeace Farm Power

aAccredited Supportive Living Services LtdaRemax

aATB FinancialaSafeway

aATCO ElectricaSubway

aCanadian Off-Highway Vehicle aThe Quad Squad

Distributors CouncilaTim Meyer - The Fire Guy

aCandace BoechleraUFA

12 Month Raffle FundraiserTicket sales are now complete for Safe Communities 1st raffle fundraiser. Due to circumstances, 20% of the 3000 tickets printed were sold this year, still creating a small profit. This years raffle was however very successful in generating a greater awareness of who we are as an organization and logo recognition! This past year, it is estimated that over 3500 people in the Grande Prairie area PARTICIPATED in an injury prevention program provided by Safe Communities.The Raffle will be an annual fundraiser - so watch for another 12 exciting prizes to be announced Spring 2010!Thank you to our 2009/2010 Prize Package Sponsors: Congratulations to our June winner - Canadian Tire, WestJet, Grande Prairie Storm, GP Mall, Judy Riddell. Judy won the BACKYARD Merle Norman, Janina’s Jewellery, Future Shop, Save On RELAXATION package sponsored by Foods, Valard Construction Ltd, The Leisure Centre, Bear CANADIAN TIRE, which included a BBQ, fire Creek Golf Club, Dunvegan Gardens, Echo Audio Video bowl, patio table, chairs, umbrella and stand. Unlimited.

AB Agriculture’s Farm Safety Program encourages children to be a Farm Safety STAR! Spot the hazard, Tell an adult, Act on it, Remind other to stay safe!!

Thank you!!Thank you Darren Bosomworth Truckingfor keeping our parking lot cleared of snow this winter! Darren donated all his plowing services in an effort to support keeping Grande Prairie injury free!

Did you Know?The Peace Country Safety Resource Centre is now a SMOKE-FREE building and property. Policy also states that there is no alcohol to be served in the facility. These policies are in support of the health and safety of our children, adults and seniors.

and presentations... Just to name a few! Peace Country SafetyOur facility is available to rent for your

Resource Centre meeting or presentation too. Rental fee is just $100/day or $50/evening. Call our Did you know that our building has been named office for more information or to book the Peace Country Safety Resource Centre by a your event: 780-402-2818.donation received from Alberta Health Services?

Many people from the community know the peach colored stucco building as the former Kingdom Hall, but that is quickly changing! Safe Communities has been host to over 60 events since last March when we took possession of the building - Town Hall meeting, Safety Association meetings, WCB training sessions, Alberta Health Services OH & S meetings, Crime Prevention meetings, AGM’s, Parent Link Centre workshops

Safety City Stages of Construction

restrictions (Usually more than 1.5 metres).Cooling Thoughts! · Private pools should have a gate with a self-Submitted by: Michelle Hodder, Health Promotion closing, spring lock and an inside latch high Facilitator, AHS enough that only an adult can reach it.Warm weather brings 'cooling' thoughts. Backyard · Safety equipment for pools include a non-pools, lawn sprinklers and kiddie wading pools are metal reaching pole, a throwing line with an popping up in our backyards. attached buoyant aid, a first aid kit, and a With these fun activities, we need to remember to poolside telephone with emergency play it safe around water. According to the Red numbers.Cross, drowning is one of the leading causes of death · Teach children to be “kid smart.” Even very for Canadian children between the ages of one and young children can learn basic water safety four that's second only to motor vehicle collisions. rules. Post rules by the pool.Did you know that it only takes four centimetres of · Enrol your children in swimming and water water (less than two inches) for a child to drown in safety courses.just enough to cover their mouth and nose. It only Water Safety Rules for Childrentakes a moment! · Swim or play with an adult's constant Supervision is the key factor to having safe fun when supervisionplaying in or near water. As well, the supervising · Do not run or push others in or around the adult should know about safety equipment and wateremergency procedures, including water rescue and · Keep food and drinks away from the pool CPR. The supervising adult is the child's best life area.preserver and should always be within arm's reach! · Riding toys should never be near the pool. Water Safety Guidelines for Parents A child could easily misjudge their distance and Caregivers from the edge and fall in the pool.· Never leave a wading pool unattended. · Don't dive. Most backyard pools are not

Empty and turn it upside down when not in deep enough for safe diving.use. · Call for help if needed.

· From time to time, move a sprinkler around For more information about water, boating and to avoid building up puddles of water on backyard pool safety, contact the Canadian Red the ground. Cross at or contact Healthlink

· Private swimming pools should have a fence Alberta at 1-866-408-LINK (5465).preventing direct access from the house. The fence should meet municipal

www.redcross.ca