It's Child Safety Week and Alberta Health Services wants everyone to be safe when using an ATV or off highway vehicle.

The Lead Medical Health Officer for the Calgary Zone, Dr. David Strong says the vehicles can pose a great risk especially to children.

"We're recommending that anybody under the age of 16 not drive, or even be a passenger on ATV's, it's just not designed for them. particularly as it relates to driving, " he says. "Anybody under 16 doesn't have the strength or the skills or the judgement to operate and ATV but even for people over the age of 16 ATV's can be dangerous."

He says taking a course and wearing the proper gear. As of May 15, 2017, CSA-compliant helmets must be worn by OHV users when riding on public land, but a helmet worn every ride can save your life. From 2002 to 2013, 41 per cent of ATV-rider deaths in Alberta were due to head injuries. In 77 per cent of these head injury deaths, the ATV riders were not wearing a helmet.

Dr. Strong suggests checking the forecast and know the terrain you're heading into and don't drink and drive.

"A significant number of injuries, it's been determined are related to alcohol use so that's a really strong recommendation to be made obviously with anything you're driving but especially ATV's," he says.

Over a one-year period ending April 1, 78 children were seen in Alberta’s two pediatric emergency departments due to ATV-related injuries; 31 required hospital admission and one died.

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