As e-scooters and e-bikes gain popularity, doctors are warning about a rise in emergency department visits involving children and teens who are injured while riding them.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 360,000 emergency department visits from micromobility devices between 2017 and 2022, with children under 14 making up 36% of those cases.
Lance Brown, MD, MPH, Chair of Emergency Medicine, says his department is treating e-scooter and e-bike injuries “just about every day.”
“Head injuries tend to be one of the more common things that we see, along with facial injuries,” Brown said. “Too often, children are riding without helmets, and when they fall, the impact on asphalt or concrete can be severe.”
Unlike traditional bicycles, e-bikes and scooters allow riders to reach speeds far beyond what they could achieve pedaling on their own. Brown says this speed, combined with young riders’ lack of experience, leads to dangerous outcomes.
“We’re seeing them lose control, go too fast, and crash,” said Brown.
Most patients arrive with concussions, facial lacerations, or fractures. While many cases are mild, some can be severe, particularly when riders fall onto concrete without helmets.
“The majority of head injuries are concussions, but without protection, a fall can result in significant trauma,” Brown said.
Brown emphasized that prevention starts with parents. “Don’t let a younger child use these at all,” he said. “And for tweens and teens, wearing a helmet is non-negotiable.”
Brown’s top prevention advice:
- No young children should be on e-bikes or scooters.
- Helmets are essential for tweens and teens who ride.
- Parental judgment plays a critical role in preventing accidents.
“Arm pads and knee pads don’t make a difference in preventing the serious injuries we see,” Brown said. “Helmets are the single most important piece of safety equipment.”