January 2021
The Canadian Cancer Society appreciates your commitment to the Trottibus project.
In accordance with the public health recommendations issued by the Government of Quebec and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and because we prioritize the well-being and safety of participants and volunteers, we have adapted the instructions to be followed when pursuing Trottibus activities at participating schools in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that these instructions are intended for all Trottibus participants (members of the organizing committee, volunteers, children who registered for the Trottibus and their parents) from active schools that wish to resume Trottibus activities or launch them during the 2020-2021 school year.
Recommendations regarding Trottibus activities for schools in the red zone:
Where possible, we recommend that parents of children registered for the Trottibus accompany their child to school in active transportation.
If the children have to travel by Trottibus:
- We recommend keeping a distance of 2 metres between children and between children and the volunteers. Children will therefore have to travel in a single file.
- Distancing is not necessary for children living under the same roof or who are part of the same class group and can thus travel in pairs.
- Pairs should, where possible, remain the same every day.
- To ensure safe travel, we recommend limiting the number of children per group of walkers to 6 children and limiting the length of the Trottibus to 8 metres. Depending on the arrangement of the children in the Trottibus, in pairs or alone in single file, the number of volunteers will vary:
- Ratio of 2 volunteers per 6 children if the Trottibus is 8 metres or shorter.
- Ratio of 3 volunteers per 6 children if the Trottibus is longer than 8 metres.
- Physical contact between walkers during the Trottibus should be avoided.
- Wearing a face mask is mandatory for students from grades 1 to 6 and for volunteers.
- Wearing a face mask is suggested for preschoolers.
- Both students and volunteers must wash their hands before and after entering/exiting the Trottibus. In addition, it is recommended that all participants have antiseptic gel in their bag to clean their hands when entering and exiting the Trottibus.
- We recommend that you plan the arrival of the Trottibus walkers at the school with the organizing committee and the volunteers to prevent people from gathering when they arrive (the distance between people could then be difficult to supervise).
- We recommend that the parents of children who are at home or who work from home be recruited to meet additional volunteer needs.
Recommendations regarding Trottibus activities for schools in the green, yellow and orange zones:
- Based on the instructions related to school transportation, we recommend respecting a distance of 1 metre between children walking in pairs (two by two) and between each pair, and a distance of 2 metres between volunteers.
- Pairs made up of children/volunteers living under the same roof are preferred and no distance is necessary between them;
- Pairs made up of children from the same class are preferred, where possible, and no distance is necessary between them;
- The pairs should, where possible, remain the same every day;
- Physical contact between walkers during Trottibus activities should be avoided;
- Wearing a face mask is on a voluntary basis for preschoolers and for students up to grade 4 and is mandatory for those in grade 5 and 6 and for volunteers;
- Both students and volunteers must wash their hands before and after entering/exiting the Trottibus. In addition, it is recommended that each participant have antiseptic gel in their bag to clean their hands when entering and exiting the Trottibus.
- We recommend limiting the number of children per group of walkers to 8 and respecting the ratio of 2 volunteers per 8 children.
- For example, for a group of 12 children, it will be necessary to separate the group into 2 sub-groups of 6 walkers. A volunteer should be at the head of the 1st sub-group. A 2nd volunteer should be between the 2 groups of children. Finally, a 3rd volunteer should supervise the end of the 2nd sub-group.
- At intersections, have the children cross in small groups of no more than 8 children at a time.
- In the case of crossing a major artery, Volunteer 2 should be in the middle of the road to manage traffic. Volunteer 1 should lead through Sub-group 1, in front of the group. Volunteer 3 should lead Sub-group 2. When the last group has crossed, Volunteer 2, positioned on the roadway, should retrieve the end of the line. The groups that have crossed must walk on the sidewalk in order to maintain a distance of 1 metre.
- We recommend that you plan the arrival of the Trottibus walkers at the school with the organizing committee and the volunteers to prevent people from gathering when they arrive (since the distance between people will be difficult to supervise).
- We recommend that the parents of children who are at home or who work from home be recruited to meet additional volunteer needs.
- Please take note of your volunteers’ comments and report them to the Canadian Cancer Society so we can make any necessary adjustments to these recommendations.
- Refer to our Recommendations in the event of symptoms associated with COVID19 or a positive COVID-19 test in a child using the Trottibus
In the event of symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever or cough or difficulty breathing or sudden loss of sense of smell or taste, headache or sore throat, other symptoms listed on the government site, please stay home and call 1 877 644-4545 (and follow the instructions given to you).
Please also stay home if you were told to quarantine (after returning from a trip, being diagnosed with COVID-19, had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, etc.).
For more information on COVID-19, please go to the quebec.ca website.