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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, O ct ob er 1, 20 20 | 8 www.leathertownlumber.ca LEATHERTOWN LUMBER While we are currently only open for urgent eye care, we are getting prepared for a full re-opening of our offices as soon as health officials will allow.We wish to assure all our current and new patients that strong safety measures will be in place when we do open. Hope to see you soon and stay safe! We are open but due to the current virus situation we have to limit the number of people in our office. If you are planning a visit (for routine eye examinations, eyewear purchase and repair, contact lens pick up etc), please contact us in advance and we will arrange an appointment time for you. This will prevent overcrowding and keep everyone safe! ON NOW AT THE BRICK! SAVING YOU MORE For more details go instore or online @thebrick.com. has been teaching at schools throughout Halton and surrounding areas for 20 years. This year -- like so many others -- she's had to pivot to an online business model. Teaching online, using Zoom, McEwen covers a lot of ground, including topics such as: what's in a first aid kit, calling emergency medical services, identifying poisons and dangers, how to handle wounds, nose bleeds, burns and choking. The course normally features five one- hour sessions. "The virtual delivery was a pilot pro- ject, and at first I was like, 'Are you kid- ding me?' when Red Cross approached me to do it. I mastered Zoom thanks to my daughter, who helped me," McEwen says. "First aid was awkward to do online with- out the real-life demonstration, but the videos helped us get through it." Jordin Filian, 11, has taken both the home alone class and the babysitting course with McEwen. Mom Claudia Fi- lian said, "Jordin really enjoyed it! She is now even more confident in her decisions and looks forward to caring for her seven- year-old brother from time to time. She loved to participate and became one of the leaders in the break-out rooms. This course has positively impacted her and has really helped with her anxiety. It was a great experience." Ruth Gardner's daughter took the babysitting course online this summer too. "I registered my daughter as I wanted her to be prepared and feeling comfort- able if she was to look after other children, but also keep her safe in the home," she said about the summer session her daugh- ter attended. "She didn't think it made a difference being on Zoom since by July she was very familiar with online activities given Goo- gle classroom for school .... Catherine did a great job keeping the kids on their toes and engaged." For her part, McEwen says, "If I even get through to one child, that makes it all worthwhile." "Staying at home is a privilege for par- ents and kids as long as both parties are listening to each other. Parents get to save money on child care and the child learns about independence. But it's unfair to have a child stay home alone before teach- ing them the basics like what to do if the carbon monoxide detector starts beep- ing," McEwen, who is offering online ses- sions through the fall and winter, says. The Canada Safety Council recom- mends that parents not leave children alone before age 10 -- and even then, only if the child is mature enough, and there is a responsible adult nearby, such as a neighbour, to help if needed. Its website offers a list of home alone program pro- viders focusing on how to prevent prob- lems and handle real-life situations. To learn more about Kids Safety First visit @KSFmcewen or its website: https://mcewenfamily.wixsite.com/kids- safetyfirst-1/programs. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With thousands of Halton-area parents facing the suddenly heightened challenges asso- ciated with work and their children's new education scenario, we explored one local woman's efforts to give youth the tools necessary to be safe at home alone. NEWS Continued from page 1 COURSE A REAL CONFIDENCE BOOSTER: MOM "If I even get through to one child, that makes it all worthwhile." - Catherine McEwen