Edmonton, Alberta – The Alberta Health Services (AHS) offers safety warnings to prevent injuries and illnesses from All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use and from Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) bacteria.
Risks of ATV on Children
Health officials offered safety warnings in addressing the risks associated with the use of ATVs. AHS official said that children aged 16 and below should not be allowed to drive ATVs. They were also warned not to ride because there are risks associated with both driving or simply riding. Data showed that 38 children have been injured due to ATVs, from May to July this year. Fourteen of the Alberta children were admitted either to the Alberta Children’s Hospital or Stollery Children’s Hospital. Reports stated that two of the children died at the Stollery urgent care clinic.
Records and Data
The Edmonton Zone Medical Health officer Dr. Chris Sikora, in a statement, warned that even ATVs, which are marketed as child-friendly, having a child-size are similarly dangerous for children. He emphasized that having an injured child in an emergency department is already too many. Records also showed that 350 children 17 years old and below have been in urgent care clinics or emergency health facilities between April 2013 and March 2014. Additional data indicated that 23 children aged 16 and below died between 2002 and 2011. All cases were related to ATV injuries.
Precautions for ATV Users
The health advisory outlined safety warnings for those who use ATVs. Precautions included the importance of receiving proper training before using or driving such vehicle. ATV users should always bring or carry a radio or a cell phone and proper use of seat belts and helmets. Being aware of weather forecasts is equally primary as a preventive measure. Most of all, the AHS stressed that sober people should only drive an ATV. These warnings are sort of an urgent care near me guidelines for any ATV user. Also, the advisory focused mainly on the personal safety of users and drivers, while no suggestions or changes in ATV laws.
Cases of E. Coli
Furthermore, Sikora warned the community of E. Coli bacteria that are mainly stemming out from the bean sprouts. In the past weeks, 24 cases of E. Coli were recorded, 21 of which were attributed to the bean sprouts. In order to employ an urgent care about the issue, bean sprout producers, along with different restaurants are now being investigated, although there are no current risks to the public at present. AHS suggested that people should cook beef properly, or not eat at all (at this point), to wash vegetables thoroughly, as well as proper hand washing practices as safety warnings to prevent such illness.
