In Alberta, sport-related incidents are the leading cause of injury related emergency department visits for 15-19 year olds. Pursuing an active lifestyle increases the risk of sustaining an injury; however, physical activity is beneficial for overall health. Finding a balance between active living and injury prevention means avoiding certain risks while accepting others when participating in physical activity.

Teenagers are faced with making decisions involving risk taking but their ability to assess risks and future consequences is not fully developed. To prevent dangerous risk-taking and injury, it is essential that youth learn how to recognize risk, manage risk, and make healthy choices.

Key Messages

Albertans of all ages can lower their risk of getting hurt while playing sports and enjoying recreational activities by following these tips:

• Check the environment to reduce or remove hazards. A hazard is something dangerous that may not be obvious but that can cause serious injury. Examples of hazards include thin ice on a frozen lake when skating and broken equipment in a playground or snowboard park.
• Wear protective gear – depending on the activity, protective gear like a helmet, mouth guard, elbow pads or wrist guards can lower your risk of an injury. Your gear should fit well for the best protection.
• Develop skills – training and practice help you learn an activity, get better at it and can lower the chance you’ll get hurt. Think about taking lessons to learn or improve how you ski, snowboard, skate, bike, or play any sport.

Encourage your clients to visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca to learn more about Sport and Recreation Safety for:

• Adults
• Youth
• Children