Public Health Agency of Canada
www.publichealth.gc.ca
Fact Sheet
Investing in child and youth injury prevention in sports and recreation
The issue
- Unintentional injuries are the greatest threat to the health of children and youth in Canada.
- More than 40% of child and youth injuries treated in emergency departments are sport and recreation related:
- 30% of those in children aged five to nine years;
- 68% of those in the 10-14 year age group; and
- 55% of those in youth aged 15-19 years.
- More than 40% of head injuries in children and youth aged 10-19 years treated in emergency departments are sustained during sport and recreation activities.
- Direct and indirect health care costs of child and youth injury are estimated at $5.1 billion a year.
- Canadian families and the Government of Canada are becoming increasingly concerned about sport and recreation-related injuries, particularly concussions.
- Most unintentional injuries are both predictable and preventable.
The investment to keep kids active and safe
- The Government of Canada wants Canada’s children and youth to be more active and, at the same time, to enjoy their favourite sport and recreation activities with greater emphasis on safety.
- In the 2010 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada committed to work with non-government organizations to address childhood injury.
- The Government of Canada is investing $5 million over two years to support community-based activities that empower Canadians to make safe choices.
- Over the next two years, we will work with non-governmental organizations to increase awareness and understanding of the injury risks in sports and recreation activities and encourage safe behaviours to prevent injuries.
- This new investment will focus on major injuries such as concussions, drowning and fractures in high participation activities such as hockey and snow sports, cycling and swimming and water sports.
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