Scooters can be fun, but stay safe!
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recently launched a public health and safety campaign to Scoot Safe! Scooters are taking over the streets and sidewalks of cities alike but aren’t being safely by everybody. The ACEP is leading a campaign is urging people who use electronic scooters to use them safely with their public service announcement.
“Scooters are fun and convenient, but they can be very dangerous if you don’t ride them correctly or follow the rules of the road,” said Vidor Friedman, MD, FACEP, President of ACEP. “Emergency physicians are treating an increasing number of scooter-related injuries. And, many avoidable injuries can be life-changing. The number one thing you do to avoid serious harm is to wear a helmet.”
Physicians are seeing increases in the amount of scooter-related accidents and injuries to riders and pedestrians alike. The scooters are motorized vehicles that may susceptible to accidents like slick roads, small bumps, mechanical failures and more. Riders have been reporting all sorts of injuries including cuts or scrapes to broken ribs, arms and legs or even more serious conditions like head or neck injuries and organ damage.
The ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. Through their animated public service announcement they have encouraged the public to “Scoot Safe!”. A JAMA Network Open study that was authored by emergency physicians noted that scooter riders landing in Southern California emergency departments over the last year had injuries like fractures (31.7%), head injury (40.2%), bruises or cuts (27.7%).
The ACEP video recommends riders:
Wear a helmet Learn and observe local rules of the road Don’t speed Beware of road hazards Be an alert rider, pay attention to the road Inspect your ride (Tires, throttle and brakes) One scooter is built for one rider Never ride a scooter if you’ve been drinking alcohol When done riding, park the scooter upright or in designated areas If you would like more information on their campaign you can visit their website at www.emergencycareforyou.org/scootsafe.
