Harper Government supports safe play for children and youth

Promoting greater awareness on injury prevention

VICTORIA, Aug. 28, 2012 /CNW/ - Dr. Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, support for a physical literacy project that aims to promote greater awareness on how children and youth can avoid injury by playing safely.

"Unfortunately, more than 40% of child and youth injuries treated in emergency departments are sports- and recreation-related," said Parliamentary Secretary Carrie. "Today's investment encourages children and youth to develop the skills they need so they participate in a wide variety of sports safely."

Canadian Sport for Life, with support from Canadian Sport Centre Pacific, will develop the Active and Safe for Life - Physical Literacy project to enhance the skills, knowledge and attitudes of children and youth so they can avoid injury when participating in sport and recreational activities. The project will also create safe sport environments by promoting best practices and using the appropriate equipment and facilities.

"Many sporting injuries can be prevented," said Richard Way, Canadian Sport for Life. "When children and youth know how to move safely along with the rules of fair and safe play, they can avoid being injured and in the longer term, maintain an active and healthy lifestyle."

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 Active and Safe for Life - Physical Literacy

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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 they are safe 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 $200,000 will support a project that enhances skills, knowledge and attitudes of children and youth, known as physical literacy, so they can be active and safe while participating in sports and recreational activities.

Active and Safe for Life - Physical Literacy Project

This project will be led by Canadian Sport for Life, with support from Canadian Sport Centre Pacific in partnership with Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, Physical & Health Education Canada, Lakehead University, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Play Safe Initiative, Respect Group Inc., the Sandbox Project, the BC Sport Agency and Sport Newfoundland and Labrador.

Project activities include:

• integrating injury prevention messaging into physical literacy materials previously developed by these organizations;
• facilitating the adoption of recommendations for the appropriate use of sport equipment and facilities for 30 sports; and
• reviewing the rules of play in four sports (soccer, lacrosse, rugby and baseball) to increase injury prevention awareness and promotion.

Image with caption: "Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, Colin Carrie, high-fives with toddler Liam Grange, as David Johnson (Summer camp supervisor Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence) watches. Victoria, August 28, 2012. (CNW Group/PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120828_C2052_PHOTO_EN_17307.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]