Scooter Safety
Scooters are associated with an increased risk of injury, particularly in young children, which is why children under age eight should not use them without adult supervision, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Young children do not have the developmental skills required for safe scooter riding, including balance, coordination, good judgment, and a realistic sense of their own dexterity and strength.
Scooter-related injuries (primarily fractures or head injuries) accounted for more than 84,400 emergency room visits in 2001—more than double the number of injuries from the previous year. Most injuries were caused when riders fell from the scooter. Fractures and dislocations accounted for 29 percent of the injuries and 85 percent of the injuries occur in children less than 15 years old. Most fractures and dislocations involved the upper extremities.
To reduce the risk of injury, the AAP suggests that children who ride scooters should:
• always wear helmets that meet safety standards, as well as knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards
• never ride in the street or anywhere near traffic
• never ride at night
• never ride on wet pavement or surfaces that have sand, gravel, or dirt
• avoid steep hills, slippery/uneven surfaces, and crowded walkways/streets
• obey traffic signs
• wear sturdy shoes and never wear sandals or flimsy footwear
• be familiar with the steering, handling, and brake system
The AAP also recommends that children younger than 10 not use skateboards unsupervised, and children younger than five not use them at all. The AAP also reminds parents never to let their kids hitch a ride onto the back of a car while riding a skateboard. Whenever possible, children should ride in community skateboard parks, which are more likely to have safer surfaces and ramps.
Scooter-related injuries (primarily fractures or head injuries) accounted for more than 84,400 emergency room visits in 2001—more than double the number of injuries from the previous year. Most injuries were caused when riders fell from the scooter. Fractures and dislocations accounted for 29 percent of the injuries and 85 percent of the injuries occur in children less than 15 years old. Most fractures and dislocations involved the upper extremities.
To reduce the risk of injury, the AAP suggests that children who ride scooters should:
• always wear helmets that meet safety standards, as well as knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards
• never ride in the street or anywhere near traffic
• never ride at night
• never ride on wet pavement or surfaces that have sand, gravel, or dirt
• avoid steep hills, slippery/uneven surfaces, and crowded walkways/streets
• obey traffic signs
• wear sturdy shoes and never wear sandals or flimsy footwear
• be familiar with the steering, handling, and brake system
The AAP also recommends that children younger than 10 not use skateboards unsupervised, and children younger than five not use them at all. The AAP also reminds parents never to let their kids hitch a ride onto the back of a car while riding a skateboard. Whenever possible, children should ride in community skateboard parks, which are more likely to have safer surfaces and ramps.
Tags: AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics, injury, Scooter Safety, Scooter-related injuries, Scooters
Posted in Health and Wellness
