Canada’s new Active and Safe Injury Prevention program



                                                                         Smart Risk photo



Funding details have been released for Canada’s new youth oriented Active and Safe Injury Prevention program. Announced by the Federal Government back in March (link here), the 5 million dollar awareness and education program will target:

·         Head injuries in team sports, particularly in hockey ($1.5 million)

·         Drowning prevention ($1.5 million)

·         Recreational cycling ($200,000)

·         Recreational snow sports ($200,000)

·         Playgrounds and neighbourhood play spaces ($200,000)

·         After-school physical activity programs ($200,000)

·         Physical literacy ($200,000)

This leaves $1 million for projects open to proposals.

This is in direct response to the rash of head injuries and the concussion epidemic which seems to be sweeping youth sport and recreation these days. The topic is finally being taken seriously (due to in no small part the high profile head injury of NHL star Sidney Crosby).

From an adventure activity perspective, snowsports and cycling fall into the target categories. I’m all for shining a spotlight on the dirty underside of our ‘extreme’ sports, in particular the rate of life altering head injuries in downhill/freeride mountain bike and the toll snowboard terrain parks take on gung ho kids.

The downside: as people become ‘aware’ (i.e. parents and communities), there is a reasonable assumption they may want to do something about it. Where this goes is anybody’s guess. Mandatory helmet laws have some statistical relevance, but it does not account for the go big mentality associated with certain activities. Some groups have been doing good (but quiet) work here (SmartRisk; Smart Style Terrain Park Safety). We will see where this goes, but I think some pressure will be generated on certain activities to reign it in, for better or worse.