By Liam Verster

Summer Activity Injuries

Injury Prevention Centre asks Albertans to be cautious after seeing increased injury rates last summer

May 22, 2021 | 6:00 AM

With the weather warming up and more people looking for outdoor activities to fill their days, the Injury Prevention Centre at the University of Alberta Hospital is urging Albertans to be extra cautious.

In 2020, Alberta Health Services noted a year over year increase of 40 per cent in hospital and Emergency Room visits from people who had injured themselves while biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, trampolining, and ATV-ing.

Bike related injuries saw the greatest increase, going up 42.6 per cent from 8,685 injuries in 2019 to 12,398 in 2020.

ATV related injuries also increased by 42 per cent from 625 in 2019 to 889 in 2020.

Kathy Belton, the Associate Director of the Injury Prevention Centre, says these incidents are directly related to hospital and emergency room visits, which have a high cost associated with them.

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“Injuries cost the Alberta health care system $4.6-billion in direct health care costs, and $2.4-billion in indirect costs. So that’s $1,668 for every Albertan.”

She adds that while it’s costing money to treat these individuals, it’s also putting added strain on a system that’s been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The fact that our emergency rooms and hospitals and ICU’s are inundated with COVID patients, so if we can do anything to lessen or decrease the toll and amount of resources on our health care system over the next little while, I think we should do it.”

Injuries also account for six deaths each day in Alberta, and is the leading cause of death for Albertans under the age of 45.

Belton says it’s likely that these injury rates rose as more people looked for ways to get out and look for new things to try to fill the days while COVID restrictions were in place.

Belton says while she encourages all Albertans to go out and enjoy the sunshine and summer activities, it’s important to be safe while doing so.

“If you’re going to do any of these activities, please do them while you’re sober. Alcohol and cannabis do not mix with ATV’s, bicycles, or actually any sort of activity.

“If you have kids that are running an ATV or cycling or on a trampoline, please supervise them according to their abilities. And always wear protective gear. That’s helmets, knee and elbow pads, and any other recommended equipment for that sport or activity.”

She adds that adults also need to take it easy when learning new activities, and to not push the limits of themselves or their equipment, because that’s when injuries occur.