E-scooter hospitalizations up by 40% in past year: CIHI
There were 837 hospitalizations for e-scooter injuries between April 2025 and March 2026, an increase from 601 in the same period the previous year, according to new data.
Hospitalization rates for e-scooter injuries have surged by nearly 40% in the past year, according to data released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). In the 2025-26 period, there were 837 hospitalizations due to e-scooter incidents, compared to 601 cases in the previous year. Among the injured, head and brain injuries, as well as fractures, were the most common reasons for hospitalization.
A pediatric emergency physician at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, Daniel Rosenfield, expressed surprise at the figures, noting the prevalence of e-scooter usage during the summer. He pointed out that the number of youth aged 15 and under hospitalized for e-scooter injuries jumped from 54 in 2024-25 to 150 in 2025-26. Among those injured in 2025-26, 122 were boys and 28 were girls, with a significant increase in morbidity and injury among young teen and preteen boys.
Michael Terner, manager for hospital data management at CIHI, attributed the rise to the increased availability of e-scooters. More users mean a higher likelihood of injuries. The data showed that 544 people were hospitalized in 2025-26 due to fractures and major joint/musculoskeletal injuries, accounting for 65% of reported injuries. Head and brain injuries made up 18.8% of all injuries, with a total of 157 reported.
The Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) reported that 10 Canadian youths died from injuries sustained while using e-scooters and e-bikes in 2025. Youth aged 10 to 15 accounted for 42% of the cases, with 18% among those aged five to nine. The average age for incidents was between 10 and 12. Common injuries included head trauma (47%) and limb injuries (40%).
Between July 2025 and 2026, there was a 22% spike in hospitalizations due to e-scooter injuries across Canada, with more than 1,000 Canadians hospitalized in total. A 2022 study by Statistics Canada also found that the majority of e-scooter incidents occurred during the summer months, coinciding with warmer weather in Canada.
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