Harper Government supports safe cycling

TORONTO, Aug. 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, support for a project to reduce cycling injuries by promoting safe and healthy cycling practices among children and youth.

"High speeds, lack of equipment and limited experience can lead to cycling injuries," said Parliamentary Secretary Carrie. "Today's investment will provide young Canadians and their families with cycling skills and knowledge to keep themselves safe from injury while leading an active, healthy lifestyle."

Safe Kids Canada will develop the Enabling Active and Safe Cycling for Canadian Children and Youth project, a public awareness campaign to promote safe cycling practices. The project will also increase the availability of CAN-BIKE programming to help children and youth develop cycling safety skills. In addition, community groups and partners like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada will distribute low-cost and no-cost bicycle helmets.

"No parent wants to see their child hurt when they are being active." said Pamela Fuselli, Executive Director at Safe Kids Canada.  "We're taking action to help prevent as many injuries as we can by promoting safe cycling practices among children and youth to keep them active and safe."

Through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Active and Safe initiative, the federal government supports a number of projects that focus on preventing injuries among children and youth by reaching Canadians in the communities where they live and play. Active and Safe encourages community level action to increase sport and recreation safety awareness.

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FACT SHEET - August 2012 

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Funding to Enable Active and Safe Cycling

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Unintentional Injuries among Children and Youth in Canada

Sports and recreation related injuries make up a significant proportion of unintentional injuries for children and youth up to age 19. In fact, 40% of child and youth injuries treated in Canadian emergency departments are sport and recreation related. While the Government of Canada encourages Canada's children and youth to become more active and live healthy lifestyles, it is also important to encourage their safety while being active.

Through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Active and Safe injury prevention initiative, the Government of Canada is investing $5 million over two years to support a number of community-based projects that empower Canadians to make safe choices when they get involved in sports and recreational activities. Today's announcement of nearly $195,000 will support a project to decrease the number of cycling-related injuries by providing children and youth with the skills and knowledge to improve their safety while riding a bike.

Enabling Active and Safe Cycling for Canadian Children and Youth

This project will be led by Safe Kids Canada in partnership with Cycling Canada.

Project activities include:

• training more instructors to deliver CAN-BIKE programming so more children and youth can receive bike handling and training skills;
  
  
• making sure low-cost helmets are widely available to Canadian children, youth and their families in high risk and underserved communities across Canada; and
  
  
• conducting a public awareness campaign to promote healthy and safe cycling practices including the importance of wearing a helmet and modeling safe behaviours on every ride.

Image with caption: "Parliamentary Secretary Colin Carrie, accompanied by Kristen Gane (Parachute Canada), and Danny Anckle (Dovercourt Boys & Girls Club) (left of MP Carrie), listen to Andy Wilson (CAN-BIKE) as he explains how to effectively fit and wear a protective helmet to Rosie Burke, in Toronto 22 August 2012 (CNW Group/PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120822_C8662_PHOTO_EN_17157.jpg

SOURCE: PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA

Health Canada     
Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
[phone]

Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations
[phone]