At Little Medical School Ottawa, the safety of children is our utmost priority. The purpose of this guide is to provide information to adults engaging in activities with children to ensure safe and successful experiences. Little Medical School Ottawa is not liable for any injuries that may occur from the use of your child’s Little Medical School items outside the classroom setup.

Please be aware that Little Medical School kits contain both branded and non-branded materials. While all LMS items undergo safety testing, parents should be informed of potential risks associated with these items. This safety guide serves as a reference for parents upon receiving take-home items. Please review the list to learn more about the safety considerations for each item your child has received.

• Antiseptic Wipes: Do not use in the eyes or apply over large areas of the body. Stop use if irritation, redness or other symptoms develop. Consult a doctor if the condition persists or gets worse. If swallowed, get medical help or contact the Poison Control Center. The active ingredient is Benzalkonium Chloride.
• Bandana: Little Medical School bandana is given to the students along with a pencil in order to teach them how to tie a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. While students are practicing using those bandanas, ensure that they are not tying the tourniquet too tight. Bandanas are not to be used as a tourniquet around the neck.
• Bath tablets: Do not swallow or consume undiluted tablets except as instructed. Keep away from reach of children < 3 years of age. This product may stain porous surfaces, and textiles or adhere to soap scum.
• Confetti is also a choking hazard if sucked into the mouth.
• Cookie-cutter: the cutting side might be sharp, and the risk of injury might occur kids should use it with caution.
• Crayons/ wax pencils: Wax pencils are non-toxic and don’t contain material that would be harmful to humans if ingested or inhaled in large quantities, but they are not designed, to be used as makeup. Crayons are only expected to cause a mild laxative effect if swallowed. A piece of crayon in the mouth is considered a choking hazard. You should be concerned if your child experiences these symptoms:  vomiting, persistent/continued diarrhea, and choking.  Whenever crayons are heated for an arts & crafts project, melt crayons in a well-ventilated area. Overheating wax crayons during melting or ironing may release irritating fumes. Ironing must be done by an adult.
• Curry Comb is a toy we use to pretend-play brushing our plush horse. According to manufacturer instructions, these toys are not safe for children less than 3 years of age. There is a choking hazard due to small particles.
• Dental floss: Make sure your child is using it appropriately. Wrapping it tight around the fingers or around the neck can cause injuries. After flossing, roll it up in a tiny ball and put it in the garbage. Never flush floss down the toilet.

• Dental Synthetic Acrylic Teeth: Chocking hazard. Not for children younger than 3 years of age. Use under adult supervision.

• Essential Bacteria Growing Science Kit: Most bacteria collected in the environment will not be harmful. However, once they multiply into millions of colonies in a petri dish they become more of a hazard. Be sure to protect open cuts with rubber gloves and never ingest or breathe in growing bacteria. Keep growing Petri dishes sealed closed with tape or Parafilm until your experiment is done. Then you should safely destroy the fuzzy bacteria colonies using bleach. Children under 8 years of age should not dispose of the plates. Kits should be handled wearing personal protective equipment that will be provided to each student. Ingredients: Pancreatic Digest of Casein, Peptic Digest of Soybean Meal, Sodium Chloride, Agar. The product shall not be used by students with intolerance to soy or any other ingredient.
• Frisbee: The flying disk or Frisbee is used to play with dogs (throw and catch) or as a recreational and competitive team sport. As we teach the students the risks of injuries occurring to the dog, parents shall be alerted to the risks of injuries that might occur to their kids while playing this sport. Risks include knee or ankle injuries, such as strains and ligament sprains or ruptures, shoulder injuries, such as instability as a result of a fall and injuries to the skin such as abrasions and lacerations.
• Glitter: Choking hazard—Small particles. Not for children under 3 years. Not for use on skin or as makeup.
• Glove/ Balloons: Accidents involving gloves happen in a few ways. Some children suck gloves/balloons into their mouths while trying to inflate them. Others swallow gloves they were sucking or chewing on. Even pieces of broken gloves pose a serious potential choking hazard because they are easily sucked into the throat and lungs. Pieces of broken gloves/balloons are particularly hazardous because of the way they can stretch and mould to a child’s throat, making it impossible to breathe. Gloves/balloons are also very hard to remove from a child’s mouth or throat because of their smooth, slippery texture. Usual first-aid methods, like back slaps, the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts), or finger sweeps of the child’s mouth often do not work. LMS gloves are latex-free, however, the balloons are made of latex.
• Hand Magnet: Our hand magnets have a weak attractive force hence they are safe to use. Please note that they are not recommended for children younger than 3 years of age as they have small particles that could put a child at risk of choking.
• Ice/hot pack: Follow the instruction to use and maintain the pack. If punctured, the pack should be discarded immediately. Do not swallow the beads. Do not use it on infants. Parents should ensure that all gel hot/cold packs are only used under adult supervision, whenever used for younger children.
• Lab Coat: is not recommended for work with pyrophoric or flammable material. Keep away from fire.
• Magic Model (or playdough) and Modeling Clay: Keep the finished product away from open flame. Do not mould into candleholders or other like items for use around the flame. Do not put in oven, microwave or Kiln. The air-dry magic dough/clay contains colourant which may stain. Do not ingest. Not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts which may cause a choking hazard if swallowed. The dough contains gluten or may be contaminated with gluten.
• Magic Nuudles: The Magic Nuudles are completely non-toxic they are so safe you can pop them in your mouth and let them dissolve, the only problem is they don’t taste good! They are made of cornstarch and food colouring. They are not intended to be used by kids less than 3 years of age as small particles may be a choking hazard.
• Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline): The Vaseline is used for the craft activity (used in the bone model to represent Marrow and Cancellous Bone) and is not intended to be applied on the skin for treatment purposes such as cuts, scrapes, burns or cracks. Because it was used in the craft, the jelly might be contaminated. Do not get into the eyes. If swallowed by children, get medical help or call the Poison Control Center.
• Ping pong balls: Ping pong balls aren’t small enough to be a choking hazard. However, proper supervision from a parent or a carer is advised at all times.
• Pipe Cleaner: Crafts that involve the use of a functional sharp point should not be done by children under 4 years. Injuries that may occur from the sharp point are scratches and pricks.
• Plaster cast: Do not ingest. Not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts which may cause a choking hazard if swallowed. The plaster dust may cause allergies, so it’s not recommended for kids with Asthma. In the classroom setup, we will provide a mask for the kids suffering from asthma. The plaster might leave a stain on hands and a cloth that is easily washable. It is recommended to wash hands thoroughly after use.
• Plastic bags: Plastic bags can be a dangerous, choking hazard. To avoid the danger of suffocation, keep the bag away from babies and children.
• Reflex Hammer:It’s important for children to use the reflex hammer responsibly to prevent injuries. Only use the rubbery side for gentle taps over a tendon, as the pointed side may cause pain or injuries if used for poking.
• Slime: The fake snot is prepared using boric acid. In 2016 Canada Health has advised avoiding exposure to boric acid as stated in this link: http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/59514a-eng.php. For this activity, because we want to show the students how mucus forms and how it turned into snot, boric acid is used. During the class, the students are asked to mix it using a wood stick however, at the end of the class the “snot” is given a take-home item. Please inform us if you do not want to give away the homemade snot.
• Small parts: risk of choking for children younger than 3 years of age.
• Spanish Moss: for craft and decorative use only. Not intended for human or animal consumption. Small particles, keep away of reach of young children < 3 years of age as it presents a choking hazard.
• Stethoscope: These include but are not limited to ear infections, blown eardrums: (if misused), wrapping the stethoscope around the neck, and yanking of the stethoscope causing injury. The misuse of a stethoscope is when the child hits the bell against a hard surface. The stethoscope name tag if disassembled has small parts at could be a choking hazard for kids less than 3 years of age at home.
• Stuffed toy: The LMS stuff toy material is all new and free from dangerous or harmful substances. The term “new” shall mean any article or material which has not been subjected to a previous manufacturing process, or which has not been previously used for any purpose. All LMS stuffed toys are also tested for flammability (not highly flammable), contents and safety of design and conform to safety requirements of ASTM. However, these toys are not intended for children under 36 months of age.
• Styrofoam, if ingested. Styrofoam is NOT TOXIC to the child. The concern over Styrofoam is if the child eats large pieces. The body does not break it down and it can cause either choking or if they don’t choke it can cause intestinal.
• Syringes: Little Medical School syringes are needleless. A small piece syringe cover is a choking hazard for kids less than 3 years of age.
• Tape measure: Wrapping the tape around the neck might be a hazard.
• Thermal Blanket: Store in a dry area, keep away from direct flame, discard if nicked or punctured.
• Toothbrush: You will need to change it at least every 3 or 4 months. Children can be hard on toothbrushes. If the bristles get bent or worn down, they will not do a good job and may hurt your child’s gums.
• Water beads are non-toxic, however, if they are swallowed, they can create an obstruction in the child’s gastrointestinal tract. They also can be a choking hazard or create an injury if inserted in the nose or the ears. Not for kids under 3 years of age at home!
• Whistle: The whistle has small parts that could be a choking Hazard. Moreover, very loud noises, such as those made by a whistle, can instantly and permanently damage a child’s hearing, especially if held close to the ear for a prolonged period of time. Toys that emit more than 100dB when held at a child’s arm length are banned by Health Canada under the Hazardous Products Act. (Regulations in the US and Europe are 70 dB and 80 dB at the ear, respectively.) LMS uses 90 decibels whistles and pealess, however, those shall not be used close to the child’s ear and we recommend they are used outdoor.
• Wood sticks—craft sticks, dowels. By its nature, wood is rough and may contain splinters or sharp points.

The above risks are the most common, thus other risks that are not listed might occur. Adult supervision is required when handling the Little Medical School items project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure the appropriate use of materials. Some items are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid the use of small parts with children younger than 3 years.

For the non-branded items, if you receive the full package items please read all manufacturers’ safety warnings before using the items. If the items were included in the craft received with your child, please contact us to provide you with any details you might need.

Little Medical School is a STEM-accredited organization.

As part of our engaging curriculum, your child will have the opportunity to participate in various hands-on science experiments designed to stimulate their interest in medical and health sciences.

These experiments may involve the use of common household food items that could pose potential hazards in the classroom, particularly for children with allergies. Some of these items may include, but are not limited to:

• Vinegar
• Cocoa powder
• Cornstarch
• Salt
• Corn syrup
• Baking soda

To ensure the safety of all participants, we kindly ask that you inform us of any known allergies your child may have. If your child has a specific sensitivity or allergy to any of the above-listed items, or to other ingredients not listed, please let us know as soon as possible.