Photo courtesy Dreamstime

By Tanner Smith

Safe Kids Week

Safe Kids Week in Alberta

May 31, 2022 | 11:49 AM

Alberta Health Services is raising awareness for Pedestrian, Cycling, Skateboarding, Scootering, and Rollerblading safety with Kids Safe Week.

Doctor Jack Pang, Medical Officer of Health for Alberta Health Services North Zone, says that for young children it is crucial to wear a helmet. But even more so it’s so important for it to be the right helmet for their activity.

“It is very important because there are many types of helmets, some helmets are designed for multiple different activities and others are designed for specific activities such as cycling, and they’re not supposed to be used or interchanged for other sporting activities,” says Pang.

Pang also added helmets should be tested and certified by the Canadian Standards Association.

In 2020 Alberta Health Services saw a 45% increase in kids ages one to nine visiting hospitals with head injuries. So, Pang offered advice for parents to help get their kids to wear helmets…

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“There’s a couple of motives for kids to start using helmets, and I think one of the best ways is to lead by example, if your taking your kids for a bike ride the parents should wear a helmet to show their children this is the appropriate behavior and the recommended safe thing to do,” Pang said.

Along with cycling safety being a big motive for AHS’s Kids Safety Week, Pedestrian safety is a key portion of this year’s Kids Safety Week…

“Particularly around road rules and road safety for children, because we do know smaller or younger children are not as aware of the road rules or road safety, and something as simple as walking around the neighborhood could potentially lead to serious injuries and we’re hoping to raise awareness of that,” says Pang.

Pang added that if you recognize walking as physical activity, you also should recognize the safety skills that come with it.

According to AHS, a child should begin to develop skills to safely cross roadways by themselves between the ages of nine and eleven.