Winter Safety Day Returns

Winter Safety Day returns to elementary schools across Nova Scotia today, Nov. 20.

Employees of the Department of Transportation and Public Works will be visiting dozens of schools and passing along important safety messages.

"Winter Safety Day is fun and educational and gives children a chance for a close-up look at our snow plows," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "This is our sixth year of running Winter Safety Day and it has been well received by schools and students."

Snow plow operators will explain how children can play safely in snow banks. They will also give students colouring books and a hands-on tour of the department's 17-ton plows to reinforce safety tips.

Safety messages in the colouring books include the following:

• don't slide or walk on snowbanks close to the road
• don't make tunnels or snow forts near the road
• stay well back from plows and trucks, even if they are not moving
• enjoy winter, away from the road
• dress appropriately for winter

Staff are also hoping that safety tips are passed along to parents. For instance, plow operators advise that adults should avoid shovelling snow in the road, parking cars and leaving logs next to the road, or putting mailboxes too close to the road.

Copies of the Winter Safety Day colouring book, titled How Big is that Snowplow? Winter Safety and You!, can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/whatsnew/wintersafetyday2002.stm .