Nearly 500 children injured by e-scooters since 2019, study in England shows
Nearly 500 children have been injured by e-scooters since 2019, with less than 2% reportedly wearing a helmet and an average age of just 12, according to a three-center study in England published online in Emergency Medicine Journal.
Nearly 500 children have been injured by e-scooters in England since 2019, according to a study. Less than 2% of the injured children were wearing helmets, and the average age of the injured was just 12. The most common cause of injury was a fall from the e-scooter, making up 75% of the cases. Private e-scooters were involved in 80% of the incidents, and most of the injuries were sustained by the rider.
Head injuries accounted for 24% of the cases, and facial injuries made up 18.5% of the injuries. Less than 2% of the riders were wearing helmets at the time of the incident, and 13.5% of the injured required hospital admission. Seven percent required surgery, and 74% of the injured children lived in areas of greatest social and economic disadvantage.
The study, which analyzed data from three children's trauma centers in Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield, suggests that clearer public health messaging and a review of government legislation are urgently needed to prevent further injuries and deaths.
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