American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations for the Prevention of Pediatric ATV-Related Deaths and Injuries.

Since all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were introduced in the mid-1970s, regulatory agencies, injury prevention researchers, and pediatricians have documented their dangers to youth. Major risk factors, crash mechanisms, and injury patterns for children and adolescents have been well characterized. Despite this knowledge, preventing pediatric ATV-related deaths and injuries has proven difficult and has had limited success.

Cannabis vaping: Understanding the health risks of a rapidly emerging trend.

The rapid emergence of youth vaping has completely changed the landscape of adolescent substance use in Canada and has become a pressing public health issue of our time. While nicotine remains the most common substance encountered in vaping devices, cannabis vaping is now reported by one-third of youth who vape. Though cannabis vaping is thought to generate fewer toxic emissions than cannabis smoking, it has been associated with several cases of acute lung injury and often involves high-potency forms of cannabis, exposing youth to several acute and long-term health risks.

Protecting the public from exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke and vapour following legalization.

The adverse effects of direct cannabis use are well described in the literature; however, researchers are now beginning to expose the health consequences of secondhand exposure. Given the commitment by the federal government to legalize cannabis in Canada by summer 2018, public health officials must build on the successes of existing smoke-free programs and work with provinces and municipalities to develop policies that protect the public from secondhand exposure to cannabis smoke and vapour. While harmonization with existing tobacco laws may offer the simplest approach, other alternatives may allow stricter control of public consumption by different levels of government.

Frequent marijuana use and driving risk behaviours in Canadian youth.

Background: A better understanding of the relations between patterns of marijuana use and driving risks in young adulthood is needed.

Methods: Secondary analyses of self-report data from the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey. Youth (baseline ages 12 to 18; N=662; 52% females) were interviewed biannually (on six occasions) from 2003 to 2013 and classified as abstainers (i.

E-cigarettes: Are we renormalizing public smoking? Reversing five decades of tobacco control and revitalizing nicotine dependency in children and youth in Canada.

An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a battery attached to a chamber containing liquid that may (or may not) contain nicotine. The battery heats the liquid and converts it into a vapour, which is inhaled, mimicking tobacco smoking. The e-cigarette does not rely on tobacco as a source of nicotine but, rather, vaporizes a liquid for inhalation.

Transformational change: short-term gain for long-term pain?

Transformational change as envisioned by Millar and colleagues forecasts a closer relationship between public health and primary care. In this commentary, public health readiness and the fiscal feasibility of the suggested model are examined from a pragmatic perspective based upon past and current experience. In the face of finite resources and compelling evidence on the merits of public health retaining its traditional involvement with community partners, the utility of late-stage secondary prevention collaboration with primary care is queried.

Building the capacity of health authorities to influence land use and transportation planning: Lessons learned from the Healthy Canada by Design CLASP Project in British Columbia.

Objectives: The main objective of the Healthy Canada by Design CLASP Initiative in British Columbia (BC) was to develop, implement and evaluate a capacity-building project for health authorities. The desired outcomes of the project were as follows: 1) increased capacity of the participating health authorities to productively engage in land use and transportation planning processes; 2) new and sustained relationships or collaborations among the participating health authorities and among health authorities, local governments and other built environment stakeholders; and 3) indication of health authority influence and/or application of health evidence and tools in land use and transportation plans and policies.

Participants: This project was designed to enhance the capacity of three regional health authorities, namely Fraser Health, Island Health and Vancouver Coastal Health, and their staff.

Banning children and youth younger than 18 years of age from commercial tanning facilities.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma has increased more than three-fold in the past 35 years. Because damage is cumulative, exposure to ultraviolet radiation early in life elevates a risk that is increased further as individuals use artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation. The full impact and scope of damage caused by year-round indoor tanning may take years to appreciate given the long latency period for most skin cancers.