A doctor has described the increasing number of children presenting with injuries from e-scooters as a "real epidemic," warning that fatalities are likely inevitable if current trends continue. Dr. Davison, from the Royal Victoria Hospital, stated that e-scooters have become a significant concern for parents, healthcare providers, and the community, leading to injuries that can be "life-changing and life-threatening."
In the past year, the Belfast Trust's hospitals treated 93 children for e-scooter-related injuries. More than a quarter of these cases involved fractures or head injuries serious enough to require investigation and CT scans. The data also revealed that fewer than 10% of these young riders were wearing helmets, with the majority of injured children being males between the ages of 10 and 12.
"I've been treating children with major head injuries requiring surgical intervention, admission, and we're seeing major wounds as well from the e-bike where children are needing to go to theatre for exploration of those wounds and surgical intervention," Dr. Davison explained. He also noted a recent rise in injuries to bystanders, including toddlers walking on pavements, indicating that the danger extends beyond the riders themselves.
Dr. Davison expressed concern that it is only a "matter of time" before deaths occur as a result of these incidents. The severity of injuries, ranging from severe head trauma requiring surgery to significant wounds necessitating immediate medical intervention, underscores the risks associated with the popular mode of transport for young people.