The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding families to make safety a priority as children prepare for March Break next week.
Police are encouraging parents and guardians to take time to talk with their children about both indoor and outdoor safety while school is out.
March Break often means some children may be home alone while parents are at work. OPP say families should make sure doors are locked and remind children not to answer the door for strangers. Officers also encourage conversations about internet safety, reminding young people not to share personal information online. Children should also know where a phone is located and have access to emergency contact numbers.
With warmer temperatures arriving, waterways such as rivers, ponds and creeks may attract children looking to explore. Police stress that no ice is safe ice at this time of year and the ground near waterways can also be slippery and unstable.
The OPP is also reminding motorists and pedestrians that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Drivers, cyclists and walkers are encouraged to follow the rules of the road and remain alert.
Police say a simple conversation about safety can go a long way in helping prevent accidents during the March Break holiday.