Fall & Spring Safety Considerations

Insects

Some biting insects, such as mosquitoes and ticks, can be infected and carry diseases.  

  • An infected Culex pipiens mosquito can transmit West Nile virus.  
  • An infected Blacklegged tick can transmit Lyme disease. 
    • Ticks attach themselves to a host by transporting from a blade of grass, a twig, or leaves, and climbing onto a passing host who brushes against the grass/twig/leaf. Ticks cannot fly, hop, or jump. 

Even though the occurrences of these diseases being transmitted is low, it is important to take a cautious position and prepare appropriately.  

Mosquitoes

Prior to outdoor activity: 

  • Check with the local Public Health Department if the location of your outdoor activity has been identified as having mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.  
  • Check if your school yard is mainly located in an open area on asphalt or short grass/dirt, not conducive for harbouring mosquitoes. 
  • When using an off-school site outdoor activity location, precaution needs to be taken if the location of the activity is in an area where there is high mosquito activity. 
  • Encourage students to wear long sleeved clothing, as well as socks, closed-toe shoes, and a hat, if possible. 

Note: The mosquitoes that most commonly carry West Nile virus (Culex pipiens) are generally more active during the early evening to early morning hours. Children who are active outdoors during the daytime are at minimal risk for exposure. 

Ticks

Prior to outdoor activity: 

  • Check with your local Public Health Department to determine if the location for your outdoor activity has been identified with ticks carrying Lyme disease. 
  • If ticks have been identified:  
    • Relocate the activity to another area, if possible.  
    • Follow your school board’s/school’s and/or Public Health Department’s Lyme disease protocols or procedures.  
  • Where possible, avoid known tick environments (e.g., woods, brush, tall grasses, weeds,  and leaf litter), and stay on designated trails when walking. 
  • Encourage students to wear long sleeved clothing, socks and shoes that cover the entire foot. Have students tuck their pant legs into their socks to keep ticks away from bare skin. 

After activity: 

  • Inform students where to check for ticks and use a buddy system for them to check for ticks on clothing and exposed skin (e.g., neck, behind the ears). 
  • If a tick is found, follow procedures for removal. 
  • Do not apply substances to a tick (e.g., petroleum jelly, polish remover, lighted match).  

Poisonous Plants

Common poisonous plants that can be found in Ontario include: Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, Hogweed, Wild Parsnip, and Stinging Nettle. Prior to outdoor activity in natural areas that may be home to these plants, communicate to students information about these plants and to avoid touching plants in natural areas. For information about specific poisonous plants found in Ontario, consider accessing the Government of Ontario Noxious Weeds in Ontario Fact Sheet.  

Prior to outdoor activity:

  • Visit the activity area and check for the presence of poisonous plants.  
  • If poisonous plants are in the activity area and the location of these plants poses a risk to students, relocate the activity elsewhere.  
  • If poisonous plants are in the activity area and do not pose a risk, inform students not to touch any wildlife plants/leaves, or go near them where their clothes might come into contact with a plant. 
  • Encourage students to wear long sleeved clothing, pants, socks, and shoes that cover the entire foot.  
What to do if students come in contact with a poisonous plant

If students come in contact with a plant, instruct them to: 

  • Keep their hands to themself – away from others and other parts of their body as the oils from the plant can spread.  
  • Rinse their skin with lukewarm soapy water. 
  • Have their clothes washed as soon as they are able to, to remove any oils from the plant. 
  • Inform their parent/caregiver if they develop a rash, follow medical advice to relieve the symptoms of blisters and itchiness. 

Wildlife Safety

Bears

Communicate the following information to students.

What to do when bears are close or in your schoolyard

When bears are close or in your schoolyard: 

If you see a bear on, or around, school property, go inside the school right away, and tell the first adult you see. 

If the bear sees you: 

  • Do not approach the bear. 
  • Slowly back away toward the school. 
  • Tell the first adult you see. 

If the bear moves toward you:  

  • Slowly back away toward the school. Do not turn and run. 
  • Make noise - yell at the bear ‘GO AWAY’!   
  • Remove and drop your backpack if it contains food. 
  • Get inside the school as soon as you can, without running, and tell the first adult you see. 

To help keep bears away: 

  • Keep your lunch inside the school  
    • Do not leave food, wrappings, or lunch bags in the schoolyard. 
    • Tell your teacher if you see food or garbage left in open bins or in the schoolyard. 
What to do if there is an encounter with a black bear

What to do if there is an encounter with a black bear during a walk to/from an activity area or at an activity area:  

  • Stop. Do not panic. Remain calm.  
    • The bear may make noise that is meant to ‘scare’ you off, and acts as a warning signal. Generally, the noisier the bear is, the less dangerous it is, provided you do not approach the bear.  
  • Be sure to: 
    • Give it space. 
    • Stand tall and make yourself taller (arms above your head). 
    • Slowly back away in the opposite direction while keeping the bear in sight and wait for it to leave. 
    • Drop any food you may be carrying and slowly move away.  
    • Ensure the bear has an escape route. 
    • Leave a bear alone if it is in a tree. Leave the area. The bear will come down when it feels safe. 
    • If you are near a building or car, get inside as a precaution. 
  • Do not: 
    • Run, climb a tree, or swim. 
    • Turn your back on the bear or run (running may trigger a chase response).  
    • Kneel down. 
    • Make direct eye contact. 
    • Approach the bear to get a better look.  
    • Attempt to feed a bear. 

When going off site for physical activity: 

How to minimize encounters with wildlife (applies to bears, coyotes, wolves, and foxes): 

  • Stay on designated trails. 
  • Make noise. Alert wildlife of your presence so they can avoid you. Make noise such as singing, whistling, or talking while you are in areas with restricted visibility or with high background noise, such as near streams, waterfalls or on windy days. 
  • Travel in groups. 
  • Do not approach wildlife. 
  • Never feed wildlife. 
  • Never wear earbuds or headphones in areas that may be home to bears, wolves or coyotes. 

When planning to participate in physical activities off school site: 

  • Prior to venturing into outdoor spaces off school site for physical activity, contact local jurisdiction (e.g., Provincial Park, Ontario Provincial Police) to inquire about the presence of wildlife in the area (e.g., bears, coyotes, wolves). 
  • If bears have been observed, find another location. 

Missing Child

Consider the following safety measures to prevent and respond in the event of a missing child when planning an off-site activity. 

Prevention
  • Visit the activity area prior to activity. Check for any hazardous conditions and plan boundaries for activities where you will be in line of sight of the students.  
  • Gather contact numbers of location (e.g., Provincial Park) in case of an emergency.  
  • Leave an itinerary and location of your activities with principal/designate at the school. Do not deviate from the location without ensuring the individual is aware of change.   
  • When you arrive at the location, communicate to students the boundaries of the activity and out-of-bound areas students are not to venture.  
  • Use the buddy system, where applicable. 

Communicate to students the following if they do get lost

  • Stay calm, don’t panic, breathe slowly and deeply.  
  • Stay on marked paths, where possible.  
  • Remain in one place – do not wander around. 
  • Look at surroundings for familiar signs (e.g., footprints, landmarks, etc.). 
  • Shout/call for help – use the universal distress call, always in threes (e.g., ‘Help! Help! Help!’). 

Procedures for a Missing Child 

If there are indications a child is missing: 

  • Gather all other children together under supervision of a teacher. 
  • Other teacher/supervisor: 
    • Check with the student’s buddy – where buddy was last seen.  
    • Check immediate area locations and call out student’s name.  
    • Listen carefully for the student calling out. 
  • If a student has been determined to be missing: 
    • Call local law enforcement immediately. 
    • If you are at a Municipal or Provincial Park, contact person in charge. 
    • Prepare to provide law enforcement with information as to last seen location and description of what the child was wearing. 
  • Contact school principal and provide information about the situation.  
  • Contact parent/guardian (check with principal who and how this is to be done).  
  • Wait for police and cooperate as directed to search for missing child. 
  • Keep principal and parent/guardians up to date.  

Lightning and Inclement Weather

Be sure to check your school board’s Lightning Protocol before taking students outside for outdoor physical activity. 

For more information on weather safety considerations and preparedness guides, access the Weather page in the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education.