A new website, co-developed by a UBC faculty member, gives parents, kids, coaches and teachers easy access to injury prevention information for over 50 popular sports and recreational activities.
Active & Safe Central was launched today in honour of International Move for Health Day.
Shelina Babul
“No one wants to see a child sidelined from an activity they love by a preventable injury,” says project co-leader Shelina Babul, a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Director of the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit (BCIRPU) at BC Children’s Hospital.
Developed by the in partnership with injury prevention experts, sport injury specialists and sport organizations across Canada, the activity-specific information on the site includes common injuries, risk factors and strategies for injury prevention. The information is tailored for participants, parents and the wide range of people who support sport and recreation including coaches, teachers, officials, administrators and health professionals.
An average of 900 BC children and teens are hospitalized each year due to sports-related injuries.
“Sports and recreation-related injuries, such as overuse injuries, concussions, and ligament tears can prevent children and youth from staying active and healthy,” Dr. Babul says. “Through Active & Safe Central, parents and those involved in sport and recreation can learn about the simple and effective ways they can prevent injury and keep kids moving.”
Researchers selected the sports and recreational activities listed on Active & Safe Central based on several criteria: activities that promote healthy lifestyles, those that are likely to be offered or supported in schools and community organizations, and activities that have higher rates of injury.
Active & Safe Central is supported by BC’s Physical Activity Strategy, which is co-led through a partnership between the BC Government and the BC Alliance for Healthy Living. It was developed in collaboration with SportMedBC, BC Recreation and Parks Association, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Canadian Injury Prevention Trainee Network, Parachute, and viaSportBC.