From Enjoyable Journey to Emergency Department Go to: Children’s Hospital warns of e-scooter associated accidents

August 28, 2026

E-scooters have develop into a standard sight zooming round neighbourhoods and metropolis roads. For many riders, they provide a enjoyable and handy option to get round, however over the course of the spring and summer season months, emergency physicians at Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) have famous an alarming improve within the variety of sufferers looking for look after accidents associated to unsafe using.  

Between April and June of 2025, Children’s Hospital handled roughly 22 accidents associated to incidents involving e-scooters. During the identical time interval in 2026, that quantity has elevated to 58, a 164 per cent improve. Physicians imagine that pattern has continued by means of the summer season months.  

Dr. Sheena Belisle, Paediatric Emergency Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor for the Department of Paediatrics at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, says she and her colleagues are rising extra involved because the quantity and severity of accidents continues to climb, with lots of them preventable.

“We’ve definitely seen an increase in the number of children and teens coming to the emergency department with e-scooter-related injuries,” says Belisle. “While some injuries are relatively minor, we’re also seeing patients with broken bones, significant cuts, facial injuries and concussions. What’s particularly concerning is that many of these injuries involve children who are younger than the legal riding age. When we see a child seriously injured on an e-scooter, it often means the crash should never have had the opportunity to happen in the first place.”

Some patients are lucky with their tumbles only leading to cuts and bruises that heal relatively quickly. However, other injuries are so severe that they require surgery and lead to recoveries that stretch for weeks or even months, putting a significant damper on summer fun.  

“The accidents that concern me essentially the most are head accidents. My most important concern is the potential for intercranial bleeds which might be life threatening or life altering,” Belisle explains. “Even concussions can have long run penalties as they’re extra in danger for future concussions and it may possibly take them longer to return to common actions and routines.”  

Dr. Belisle hopes that by sharing the impact these injuries can have on children and families, more people will understand the importance of following safety rules and taking steps to prevent serious injuries.  

“Many of the accidents we see share frequent components. Riders will not be sporting helmets, there could have been a couple of individual on the scooter, or they’re using distracted.”  

Belisle also comments that families are often surprised that some of the most serious injuries occur during short, routine rides close to home.  

“The size of the trip is not what determines the danger. What issues is whether or not a toddler has the bodily coordination, judgement and consciousness wanted to securely function the scooter and reply to what’s taking place round them,” says Belisle also noting the importance of following provincial regulations which prohibit children under the age of 16 from riding the devices. To help address the growing number of injuries, LHSC has partnered with community organizations including London Police Service, the City of London, the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Western University to raise awareness about e-scooter safety and local bylaws.

Throughout the summer, medical students from Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry engaged with community members to better understand what residents know about e-scooter safety and regulations. Their findings helped inform the safety messages being shared by Belisle and her colleagues.

Belisle encourages families to have ongoing conversations about road safety and responsible e-scooter use, particularly around the importance of wearing a helmet and following local regulations. More importantly, she wants families to know that if an injury does occur, they should never hesitate to seek medical care.  

“We would all the time slightly somebody are available to get checked in the event that they’re frightened about an damage,” says Belisle. 

For Belisle, the message is ultimately a simple one. “E-scooters usually are not toys. Our purpose is not to take the enjoyable away from using them, however to assist kids and households keep secure. If sharing what we’re seeing within the emergency division helps stop even one severe damage, then these conversations are price having.”

Myths vs Realities

In an effort to tell most people and households about E-scooter security, Dr. Belisle has offered some further info surrounding misconceptions and customary questions she’s requested as sufferers and their households come into the Emergency Department.    

Myth: “They’re just toys.”

Reality: These are motorized autos able to inflicting important accidents. According to the City of London, the velocity restrict for E-scooters is ready at 24 km/hr and they need to solely be ridden on roadways posted at 50 km/hr or much less, in bike lanes, and on multi-use pathways.

Myth: “I don’t need a helmet for a short trip.”

Reality: Many severe accidents happen near dwelling and through leisure rides. Helmets assist shield in opposition to severe head and mind accidents and needs to be worn each time you trip, whatever the distance. Riders aged 16 or 17 should put on a helmet when utilizing an electrical kick-scooter, and nobody underneath the age of 16 needs to be using an E-scooter.    

Myth: “It’s okay if my child just rides for a few minutes.”

Reality: Length of time is not what determines threat. Children want bodily coordination, judgment, and consciousness to securely function an e-scooter and react to visitors, pedestrians, and obstacles. Age restrictions are in place for a cause, and youthful riders could not but have the talents wanted to securely navigate sudden conditions. As per the City of London bylaw, dad and mom are chargeable for making certain their baby underneath the age of 16 doesn’t trip an e-scooter.  

Myth: “One extra rider isn’t a big deal.”

Reality: E-scooters are designed for one rider. Adding a second passenger modifications the scooter’s steadiness, steering and braking potential, making it a lot more durable to regulate. Multiple riders improve the chance of a crash and might result in extra severe accidents when a fall happens. As a part of the provincial laws, no particular person working an E-scooter is allowed to hold any further individuals.  

Myth: “Most e-scooter injuries are just scrapes and bruises.”

Reality: While some riders stroll away with minor accidents, emergency physicians are additionally seeing fractured bones, important facial accidents, and head trauma. What begins as a enjoyable trip can shortly develop into an emergency division go to, making prevention and secure using practices vital.