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Motor Vehicle Collisions Leading Cause of Injury-Related Deaths for Kids

Posted on: Thursday, 28 June 2007, 18:05 CDT

By PETER RAKOBOWCHUK

MONTREAL (CP) - The Canadian Pediatric Society says many provinces still fall short when it comes to dealing with injury prevention and the mental health of young Canadians.

Dr. Andrew Lynk, the author of the society's 2007 report, said Thursday that advances have been made in some areas, but not one province or territory shines overall.

"There's a lot of children who are being needlessly injured, even dying or getting ill, for want of good public policy in some of our provinces and territories," Lynk said at a news conference.

The report points out that motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among Canadian children.

The pediatric society's report says more than half of the provinces and territories have no specific legislation requiring booster seats for children weighing between 18 kilograms and 36 kilograms.

"In a collision, children using seatbelts instead of back-seat booster seats are 3.5 times more likely to suffer a serious injury and four times more likely to suffer a head injury," the report says.

But Lynk said progress has been made in many areas since the society released its first report in 2005.

Lynk said the provinces are doing much better at funding immunization programs and there have been "real reductions" in adolescent smoking rates.

He also noted slow and steady improvement in obesity prevention.

But his report also says most provinces have done a poor job preventing bicycle injuries.

The 2007 report gives British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, an excellent rating because helmets are mandatory for all ages.

But seven provinces and territories have no provincial legislation.

The pediatric society also said children with mental health problems are being ignored in the current national debate over wait-times in hospitals.

Lynk pointed out that more than a million children - or one in seven in Canada - have significant mental health issues.

He also said the impeding shortage of pediatricians won't help.

"We would call on the federal and provincial governments not to forget children and youth, especially in the area of mental health." he said.

"If we don't treat the children now, we'll all pay dearly later on when they become adults who are not functioning well as parents, as workers and as citizens."

On snowmobile safety, the report gives three provinces-British Columbia, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador-poor marks because there's no law requiring helmets.

Most provinces, where helmets are mandatory, got a fair rating. Quebec gets an excellent score because, along with helmets, riders aged 16-17 must also complete a training course.

The provinces and territories get fair ratings for the way they try to control all-terrain vehicles.

But the report says most provinces have no minimum driver age and no requirement for helmet use.

The pediatric society recommends harmonizing legislation for off-road vehicles so that the minimum driver's age is 16. It also wants mandatory training and compulsory helmet use, with no exceptions.

It's also says the federal government has a critical role to play and is calling for a commissioner for children and youth "to serve as a voice for all children and youth and the federal level."

Source: Canadian Press

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