Preventing Scooter Injuries
The number of scooter injuries reported in September 2000 was nearly 18 times higher than the number of injuries reported in May 2000.
The foot-propelled scooters of yesteryear were born to be mild. Not so with today's streamlined models, which have caused thousands of injuries. What can you do to stay safe?
May 2001 — If you have a child who's too young to drive, there's a good chance you have a foot-propelled scooter in your garage. An estimated 5 million were sold in the year 2000 - the same year that emergency rooms around the country reported a startling increase in injuries resulting from the use of these popular toys.
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 27,600 people sought emergency treatment for scooter injuries between January and October of 2000. And the numbers seem to be growing by leaps and bounds: the number of injuries in September alone was nearly 18 times higher than the number reported in May.
A Classic Makes a Comeback
Why have scooters become popular again after decades of low-profile sales? The answer may lie in their sleek, modernized design, which allows for greater speed than the scooters of yesteryear. Today's models are also portable, lightweight, and sometimes less expensive than bicycles. Last but not least, children who are afraid to use skateboards or in-line skates may prefer scooters because their handles make them look easier and safer to use.
But those handles lull many children (and parents) into a false sense of security, according to Dr. Randolph Cohen, a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon with Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.
"When I was a kid, scooters had big rubber wheels, and they didn't go that fast. Today, scooters have wheels with ball bearings just like skates. These wheels have very little resistance, and they go much faster," he says.
Because so many people underestimate the danger of scooters, hospitals and physicians' offices are seeing more and more injuries. Dr. Cohen says his Hollywood practice treats at least one scooter injury every day, most of which could have been prevented through the use of protective gear.
Precautions Needed
Since the scooter phenomenon is so recent, the CDC has yet to issue official recommendations about the type of safety gear to use. However, based on available statistics on the injuries sustained by in-line skaters and bicyclists, the CDC believes that helmets can prevent 85% of head injuries, elbow pads can prevent 82% of elbow injuries, and knee pads can prevent 32% of knee injuries. (Presently, the CDC speculates that while wrist guards may prevent injury, they may also compromise safety by interfering with a person's ability to steer the scooter handle.)
In addition to using protective gear, scooter riders should observe basic precautions such as avoiding rough or uneven surfaces, staying out of traffic, and using low speeds in congested areas. Above all, they should use common sense and courtesy. Stunts are not recommended under any circumstances.
"I've had patients who rode their scooters down a flight of stairs," says Dr. Cohen.
Injuries May Soon Decline
Despite the recent rash of scooter injuries, the good news is that the numbers may decline in the near future as sales taper off and existing riders become increasingly safety-conscious. In the meantime, parents should monitor their children closely, and pray that the next time an innocent trend from the 1950s makes a comeback, it won't have 21st century complications.
Plutonium-powered pogo sticks, anyone?