Ontario doctors provide tips to parents for back-to-school health, safety

OMA advising everything from the importance of vaccinations to the dangers posed by e-scooters.

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is sounding the alarm on a range of health and safety issues facing students as they return to school.

Doctors say the upcoming school year brings new risks, including the spread of measles, rising addiction trends, and an increase in emergency department visits linked to e-scooter and e-bike accidents.

OMA President Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman tells us now is the time to think about updating vaccinations.

According to Dr. Daniela Lobo, an addictions psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, along with alcohol and cannabis, flavoured nicotine pouches are a growing concern, in addition to online gambling and other addictive behaviours. 

So how do you talk to your kids about it? Lobo makes these suggestions.

Doctors are also warning that trendy gadgets like e-scooters, seen by many as a fun way to get to and from school, are contributing to more collisions and injuries. Dr. Steve Lin, interim chief of emergency medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital, tells us technology can be a determent to safety - particularly texting while walking, listening to loud music and e-scooters.

He says wearing a helmet is non-negotiable.

The OMA says that while it can be hard for parents to stay ahead of new trends, staying informed is critical to protecting children’s health.

Story by Joseph Goden