Viva Vitality: Lighting the way to safety – National Injury Prevention Day shines bright on July 7

By Lisa Doyle on July 4, 2025.

Get ready to see landmarks across Alberta glowing green on July 7 as communities join together for National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD), a day to reflect on how we can all make safer choices and protect those we care about.

Led nationally by Parachute, Canada’s leading injury prevention charity, and supported in Alberta by the Injury Prevention Centre (IPC) at the University of Alberta, this annual campaign is a powerful reminder that injuries don’t just happen, they follow patterns – and most can be prevented.

Summer in Canada is a time for exploration and fun: biking, hiking, swimming, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors. With all that excitement comes an increased risk of injury. According to Statistics Canada, 30 per cent of injuries occur during the summer months, more than in fall, winter or spring. Whether it’s a fall on the trail, a biking collision or a poolside incident, injuries tend to spike during the summer season. But injury prevention isn’t about saying no to adventure. It’s about making smart, simple choices – like buckling up, wearing a helmet or staying hydrated – that let us stay safe while enjoying life.

Injuries are the leading cause of death for Canadians aged 1 to 44, costing the country $29 billion annually. Every day, 48 Canadians die and over 640 are hospitalized due to injury. In Alberta alone, more than 2,000 lives are lost each year, with 500,000-plus ER visits linked to injuries.

Shockingly, 75 per cent of injury-related deaths in Canada are unintentional, resulting from everyday risks like falls, motor vehicle collisions, poisonings and drownings. Among these, falls remain the leading cause of injury-related deaths, hospitalizations, ER visits, and long-term disability.

This year, the IPC is asking Albertans a simple but powerful question: “What’s one thing you do to stay safe?”

Share your answer by downloading a selfie frame from the IPC website below and posting your pic on social media using #NationalInjuryPreventionDay.

Whether it’s wearing protective gear on the job, driving within the speed limit, or storing medications properly, your safety tip could inspire someone else to take action.

Here in southern Alberta, you can show your support by watching the skies light up in green at Lethbridge City Hall, Medicine Hat Town Square, Medicine Hat Public Library and the iconic Saamis Teepee.

Injuries can happen to anyone, but together, we can help stop them before they start. Let’s shine a light on safety and make Alberta a healthier, safer place for all.

To learn more and get involved, visit injurypreventioncentre.ca/campaigns/nipd and parachute.ca/en/program/national-injury-prevention-day.

Lisa Doyle is a health promotion facilitator with Primary Care Alberta.

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