Tips to protect your child from concussions this summer

EDMONTON — Falls are the leading cause of injuries leading to emergency department or urgent care centre visits for children in Alberta, so it’s important to stay safe this summer — and that includes recognizing the signs of concussions and preventing them.  

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. More than 3,500 children under five years of age visited an emergency department or urgent care centre for injuries when they fell off a bed, chair or other furniture in 2022, according to the most recent statistics. About 70 per cent of concussion injuries in children are from falls. 

To prevent concussions in:

• Children under five years of age: 
  • Actively watch your child. Make sure they are in a safe environment.
  • Use wall-mounted gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
  • Install window guards on all windows on the second floor and above. 

• Children five to nine years of age:
  • Teach your child about safety during wheeled activities.
  • Make sure your child wears a helmet during wheeled activities.
  • Use child car seats and booster seats correctly.

It can be difficult to tell if your child has a concussion. Watch for: 

• A headache that does not go away.
• Changes in the way they play or act, or in their mood.
• Changes in the way they eat or sleep.

Children suspected of having a concussion should stop sports or activities, see a healthcare provider and rest. Rest, followed by a gradual return to activities, is often the best way to recover from a concussion. Always follow your healthcare provider’s guidance. Call 911 if your child has symptoms such neck pain, repeated vomiting, growing confusion, seizures, and weakness or tingling in their arms or legs. Visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca for more information.

Acute Care Alberta is the new provincial health agency that will oversee the governance and coordination of acute care services across Alberta. By bringing together specialized care providers, Acute Care Alberta will speed up access to high-quality care, reduce wait times and make sure every patient’s journey through the acute care system is efficient and effective across the province.

Primary Care Alberta is a made-in-Alberta solution to improve access to the primary care services Albertans rely on. By delivering coordinated services, Primary Care Alberta allows for valued healthcare professionals to do what they do best ─ care for you. Together, we are creating a future where compassionate, timely and effective healthcare is available to every Albertan at every stage of life.