Aboriginal children three to four times more likely to die from unintentional injury
Whether it’s snowmobiling, frostbite or falls, Aboriginal youth injuries are on the rise.
IQALUIT, NVT—The Canadian Pediatric Society says more needs to be done to prevent injuries among aboriginal children and youth.
According to Health Canada statistics, aboriginal children are three to four times more likely to die from unintentional injury than other Canadians the same age.
“Indigenous children are dying at a disproportionate rate compared to other Canadians and a lot of these injuries are preventable,” said Dr. Anna Banerji of the Canadian Paediatric Society.
The society says the most common causes of death due to injury are fires and motor vehicle collisions in children younger than 10, and motor vehicle collisions and drownings in children and youth aged 10 to 19.
NWT Chief Public Health Officer Dr. André Corriveau said deaths and injuries among aboriginal youth and children in the North are common. He blames mental health issues, risky behavior, loose dogs and environmental factors.
“There are injuries on the land, you know, frostbite, people going out unprepared,” he said. “The elders know how to prepare themselves but young people don’t really know how to prepare. The snowmobile breaks down and they develop frostbite.”
Corriveau said dog attacks and ATV-related injuries are also commonly seen in children and youth.
Dr. Sandy MacDonald, director of medical affairs at Qikiqtani Regional Hospital in Iqaluit, said more attention is being paid to safety over time but there will always be some level of risk for Nunavummiut and people in other parts of the country where boats, snowmobiles and four-wheelers are part of a way of life.
“We certainly see people with serious snowmobile injuries from where the machine rolled over or whatever,” he said. “Fortunately most of them are not major and people recover completely, but sometimes they result in death or long-term disability.”
Banerji and the Canadian Pediatric Society are making six recommendations including a call for a national injury prevention strategy, for more data to be collected on injuries and for efforts to reduce poverty and substandard housing in aboriginal communities and increase access to substance abuse treatment programs.
