Child safety

Alberta needs to call state of emergency over crowded hospitals, physicians say

Declaration would allow province to rapidly mobilize resources: expert. An undated file photo of a hospital bed. CBC Julia Wong, CBC News Edmonton Jan 08, 2026 The situation in Alberta hospitals is so dire that the province needs to … READ MORE

Calgary emergency wards coping with ‘extreme overcapacity’ in flu season: AHS memo

Hospital leaders tighten admission policies as virus surge strains staff. According to a memo sent Friday to Calgary acute care doctors, issues connected to overcapacity in emergency rooms are ‘expected to worsen.’ CBC … READ MORE

This year’s flu is packing a punch. How hospitals are trying to deal with surging cases

Some jurisdictions are opening extra beds, others are asking health-care providers to work extra hours. Flu season is hitting children hard, sending a flood of young patients to hospitals. CHEO, eastern Ontario’s … READ MORE

Flu cases soar as Alberta health officials work to relieve pressure on hospitals

Province says hospitalization peak likely to hit in early to mid-January. The South Health Campus adult acute care hospital in Calgary. According to the province, as of Thursday there were 650 Albertans in hospital due to the flu. … READ MORE

‘A lot of fear’: These Alberta parents hope new special education standards won’t mean segregation

Government aims to rewrite a critical document on the education of kids with complex needs. Shawna O’Halloran shared Aiden’s experience in a specialized classroom, saying she’s been discouraged at how much he … READ MORE

COVID-19 cases, vaccine campaigns helped prompt mask mandate’s return, doctor says

Mask mandate comes into effect on Monday. Dr. Natalie Bridger, an infectious disease specialist with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, says the mask mandate is meant to prevent the spread of viruses. Mark Quinn/CBC Elizabeth … READ MORE

Flu blamed in deaths of 3 children in Ottawa area this month

Ottawa Public Health, Eastern Ontario Health Unit renew vaccination plea. CHEO, Ottawa’s children’s hospital, has seen a worrying spike in flu-related visits this season. Gabriel Le Marquand Perreault/Radio-Canada CBC News … READ MORE

Alberta signs extension on child-care deal with Ottawa, but only for a year

8 provinces have signed new, 5-year deals; Alberta and Ontario opted for 1-year extensions. Federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu speaks at press conference in Calgary on Dec. 12, 2025. Monty Kruger/CBC Robson Fletcher, CBC … READ MORE

Holiday precautions to spread cheer, not germs

Influenza cases rising across Canada. A doctor examines a patient with flu-like symptoms at Elmhurst Hospital in New York City in December 2003. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Amina Zafar, CBC News Health Dec 10, 2025 Health officials are … READ MORE

Alberta emergency rooms hit with wave of influenza patients

AHS says extra beds added as hospitals face high demand around the province. Alberta Children’s Hospital is dealing with a wave of children sick with influenza. Alberta Health Services says hospitals around the province are … READ MORE

Children’s hospitals in Canada face flood of flu visits as doctors urge families to get vaccinated

High volumes put strain on limited pediatric hospital capacity, with flu season set to peak later this month. At CHEO, eastern Ontario’s children’s hospital in Ottawa, eight times more children tested positive for … READ MORE

Doctors urge vaccination as influenza upswing hits Alberta

Flu positivity rates, hospitalizations rise amid concerns about mismatched variant. Alberta’s flu positivity rate more than tripled to 11.5 per cent during the second week of November, from 3.4 per cent two weeks earlier. David … READ MORE

How Canada can regain its measles elimination status

A vial of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is pictured at the Taber Community Health Centre in Taber, Alta., Monday, July 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Nicole Ireland and Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press Nov 11, 2025 … READ MORE

Canada could face ‘worst kind’ of flu season as experts warn evolving strain may be mismatch for vaccine

Alarm bells abroad, spread of a new form of H3N2 provide warnings as influenza cases start ticking up. A colourized transmission electron microscope image of the influenza A H3N2 virus from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and … READ MORE

Alberta parents still struggling to book COVID shots for kids as doctors raise alarm about access

Alberta Medical Association estimates each COVID hospitalization costs the health system more than $34,000. Parents have to call Health Link to book COVID-19 vaccines for children under 12. But the health information line has been … READ MORE

COVID cases starting to climb across parts of Canada

Consistent end-of-summer trend has doctors recommending precautions like vaccination, staying home sick A bottle containing wastewater sits in a lab at the University of Guelph as part of surveillance for respiratory pathogens. … READ MORE

COVID-19 on the upswing as concerns about Alberta’s vaccine coverage linger

Alberta doctor says she’s seeing more cases in hospital in recent weeks Most Albertans will pay $100 for the COVID-19 vaccine this fall. The Alberta government has opted to provide it for free to a specific list of high-risk … READ MORE

Addressing fear in Alberta’s Mennonite community amid a measles outbreak

Past experiences have led to health-care hesitancy for many Low German-speaking Mennonites. Tina Meggison, right, and Nely Penner, community health reps for the Low German Mennonite community in southern Alberta, are seen with signs … READ MORE

Powwow special to honour children with disabilities made them all winners

‘It was so beautiful,’ mother of disabled child says. Emory Rabbitskin, centre, poses with parents Tina and Eugene at the Big River First Nation powwow held on July 24. Darla Ponace/CBC Darla Ponace, CBC News Saskatchewan … READ MORE

Why caffeine might hold the key to preventing sudden infant death syndrome

Vera Kratochvil photo. CC0 Public Domain by Andrew Smith, Rutgers University, June 11, 2025 After decades of stalled national progress in reducing the rate of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), a category of infant mortality that … READ MORE

How school systems can honour the human rights of people with disabilities

Schools need to hire, support and promote disabled educators and administrators to help model and envision inclusive communities. Over a quarter of all Canadians are part of the disability community. Demonstrators, about 300 of whom … READ MORE

Fisher-Price Brunch and Go Stroller Toy recalled due to choking hazard

Fisher-Price is voluntarily recalling the tissue box toy sold with the Fisher-Price 3-in-1 SnugaPuppy Activity Centers (model HLV78). The detachable tissue box toy can come apart, exposing the small support brackets, posing a choking … READ MORE

SIDS discovery could ID babies at risk of sudden death

New School of Medicine research revealing the fingerprints of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) within blood samples could open the door to simple tests to identify babies at risk. Photo by Tim Bish on Unsplash Joshua Barney, Deputy … READ MORE

Nieman: A bear and his friends have helped children find their way for a century

A Winnie-the-Pooh drawing by illustrator E.H. Shepard was found wrapped in a tea towel. The ‘fantastically poignant’ sketch of Pooh and Piglet was discovered in the cellar of Christopher Foyle, former chairman of Foyles bookshops. … READ MORE

Surgery helps young kids with cerebral palsy walk, regardless of age

A surgery that helps 7- to 10-year-olds with cerebral palsy walk also helps older kids and teens with the condition, a groundbreaking study shows. Walk-DMC is a new, quantifiable measure of motor control in children with cerebral … READ MORE

Got a Bugaboo stroller? Health Canada is recalling these seats

A recall has been issued for several Bugaboo Dragonfly Stroller seats because they may pose an injury risk to children. Photo courtesy: Health Canada By Saba Aziz, Global News December 8, 2023 Health Canada is recalling dozens of … READ MORE

Health Canada warns that Rojada Child Safety Seats may pose a risk of injury

Health Canada warns that baby car seats previously sold on Amazon.ca have an increased risk of injury. Consumer product advisory, Health Canada Last updated 2023-09-20 Summary Product: Rojada Child Safety Seats Issue: Consumer … READ MORE

Adaptability Store – Special needs products

AdaptAbility provides children, adults and caregivers of people with diverse & special needs, the very finest of products available. AdaptAbility Photo, May 2023 AdaptAbility is a trusted member of the special needs community in … READ MORE

What causes SIDS? Study suggests genetics may be at play in sudden infant death syndrome

The cause of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, continues to be a medical mystery but a new study suggests genetics may play a role. Photo by Tim Bish on Unsplash by Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today via Medical Xpress January 25, … READ MORE

This Sikh mom couldn’t find a proper helmet for her boys. Now, she’s designed her own

Tina Singh says helmet isn’t just a solution for Sikh kids, it’s also a symbol of being seen in sport. As an occupational therapist, Tina Singh says she knew how important it was to have a well-fitting bicycle helmet for … READ MORE

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