ALBERTA – As a parent or caregiver, you play a key role in keeping your children safe in your community. Parachute is a national charitable organization dedicated to injury prevention. Safe Kids Week, June 1-7, is one of their annual initiatives. This year as part of Safe Kids Week, Primary Care Alberta (PCA) is encouraging parents and caregivers to think about ways to stay safe while outside with their kids this spring.

Walking and cycling are fun and healthy ways for children to stay active. Kids get to explore the world around them and make their own decisions. But it’s important to keep safety top of mind. In Alberta, transportation-related injuries are the third leading cause of emergency department and urgent care center visits, and the second leading cause of hospitalization for children birth to age 14.

As a parent or caregiver, here are some ways you can help your kids stay safe:

• Check their ride. Make sure your child’s bike is adjusted correctly for their height. Have them do a bike check before riding to ensure tires are inflated and brakes are working. Learn more about helmet safety.
• Role model and teach your child how to cross streets following pedestrian safety rules. Practice looking and listening for oncoming traffic, crossing once cars have come to a full stop, and crossing at corners or marked crossings together. Learn more about pedestrian safety.
• Travel with your younger children. The skills to navigate more complex environments develops around the ages of 9 to 11. Ensuring your younger children are with you or a trusted adult when they are moving outside or in a vehicle can help them learn safe habits.
• Avoid e-scooters for children under 16-years- old.E-scooters are dangerous for children because they go fast, need physical strength to control and need emotional and critical thinking abilities to ride and make decisions. It’s safer for children to develop these skills by riding a bicycle or using a non-electric kick scooter. Learn more about e-scooters.

As a driver:

• Follow the speed limit. Driving at posted speeds can prevent crashes. In lower speed collisions, people involved are less likely to be severely injured or killed.
• Keep your distance. Ensure you give cyclists and other road users space on the road. When parking on the street, always check for cyclists before opening your door.
• Be alert. Manage distractions before getting on the road. Be patient and expect kids to be kids. Be alert for child pedestrians and cyclists darting between cars or moving suddenly onto the road.

To learn more about road safety for children and teens, visit myhealth.alberta.ca/injury-prevention-safety/road-safety.

Care is a lifelong commitment for Primary Care Alberta. We plan, fund and support primary healthcare across the province, improving access to care providers and offering front-line services through Health Link 811 and public health teams. Throughout the health journey, we are by your side – managing, preventing and reducing illness. Along with our partners, we nurture the connections our communities need to thrive and strengthen the health of all Albertans.