Severity of summer-related injuries likely on the rise in Alberta

Severity of summer-related injuries likely on the rise in Alberta Published 5:46 pm Thursday, July 16, 2026 More patients with severe injuries, along with a “huge uptick” in e-scooter injuries, are showing up at Alberta emergency departments so far this...

Severity of summer-related injuries likely on the rise in Alberta Published 5:46 pm Thursday, July 16, 2026 More patients with severe injuries, along with a “huge uptick” in e-scooter injuries, are showing up at Alberta emergency departments so far this summer. “We’ve seen some very significant head injuries, like bad concussions, inter-cranial bleeding requiring surgery, and a lot of broken bones that require casting, reductions, and surgery to fix,” said Dr. Andrew Dixon, emergency department physician at Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital, about e-scooter patients. His number one piece of advice to Albertans is to wear a helmet on any device that moves them forward.

“Whether that’s a bicycle, or a skateboard, or roller blades, or a scooter, or an e-scooter — you only have one brain and it doesn’t heal that well.” He added that alcohol or drugs should also be avoided while using e-scooters. As motorized vehicles, they should be treated the same as cars when it comes to substance use.

And his advice to summer motorists is to take breaks while on the road to stay alert, and to give themselves enough time to get to their destination. “There are always more vehicle accidents in summer, especially with summer travel, and unfortunately a lot of them are highway speed accidents with significantly more injuries,” Dixon said. In 2025, summer-related injuries resulted in an average of 350 visits per day to emergency departments at 13 Alberta hospitals, including Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, according the Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2025, more than 33,000 emergency department visits were recorded for the six most common injuries at AHS hospitals in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray. Those injury categories often include common summer-related injuries such as: • Arm, wrist and hand injuries, often related to sports, cycling, playground activities and falls – 8,781 visits. •

Leg, ankle and foot injuries, including sprains, fractures and other injuries from outdoor recreation and physical activity – 8,562 visits. • Cuts, lacerations and puncture wounds that happen during yard work, home improvement projects, camping and recreational activities – 6,130 visits.

• Head injuries from falls, collisions and recreational incidents – 4,717 visits. •

Major trauma injuries associated with higher-impact incidents such as vehicle collisions, cycling crashes and other serious accidents – 3,463 visits. • Allergic reactions particularly from insect stings, bites and outdoor environmental exposures – 1,511 visits. AHS said in addition to taking steps to prevent injuries, it’s also important to know when to seek emergency care.

People should seek immediate medical attention for serious injuries, major bleeding, chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of stroke, loss of consciousness or any other life-threatening condition. Those with known allergies should carry prescribed medications, including epinephrine auto-injectors, if recommended by their healthcare provider, and seek immediate medical attention if they have trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or signs of a severe allergic reaction. Other safety precautions to reduce emergency department visits include: • Use appropriate protective equipment for sports and recreational activities.

• Keep tools in good condition when completing home projects. •

Supervise children closely outdoors and keep young children within arm’s reach when near water. • Protect yourself from excessive sun exposure.

Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and seek shade when possible. • Stay aware of your surroundings when hiking, swimming or participating in summer activities.

• Take extra precautions and make safe choices when alcohol is part of summer activities.