Electric scooters are now a common sight on our roads. However, there are increasing concerns around their safety.

E-scooters can exceed 30mph and are increasingly being used for short journeys in several countries. They are fast and economical and consequently a popular way to commute in cities in the UK, US and Europe.

Government plans to encourage green transport will legalise  electric scooters on roads and cycle lanes for the first time. Currently e-scooters cannot legally be used on roads, pavements or cycle lanes in the UK. Officially e-scooters can only be used on private land.  Consequently if riders are stopped by the police on public roads, they can receive £300 fines and six points on their licence.

E-scooters accidents

Last summer, promising young YouTuber Emily Hartridge, died in an e-scooter accident in Battersea. This death has raised  further concerns around safety, especially as e-scooter sales are rising.

Transport for London issued a statement saying they were only aware of 10 serious injuries and 21 minor ones. Therefore, it is likely that the majority of injuries are not reported.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on the 8^th January has showed an alarming rise in injuries from electric scooters in the US.

Shocking statistics

In the US, injuries from electric scooters have soared by 222% between 2014 and 2018 to more than 39,000.  Unfortunately, admissions to hospital have massively increased by 365% to nearly 3,300. The majority of those admitted were young men.

The report showed that head injuries accounted for about a third of the injuries – in other words twice the rate seen in bicycle accidents.

The number of people attending trauma centres following scooter accidents and the extent of their injuries involving fractures, dislocations and head injuries, shocked health workers across the US. 

Will helmets make e-scooters safer?

Researchers noted that only 2% to 5% of injured riders wore helmets. The researchers suggested that a mandatory requirement to wear helmets could dramatically reduce the number and severity of head injuries.

For a detailed step by step guide on how to help a person involved in a road traffic accident, read our article on how to help in a road traffic accident.

If you are involved in an accident, it is a legal requirement for all drivers to stop at the scene. However, only certain health professionals have a duty of care to help someone who is injured.

What to do if you’re at the scene of an e-scooter accident?

• Approach Cautiously – maintain your own safety. Above all, keep checking that the area continues to be safe.

• Alert people to the Accident – Help to safely stop traffic around the scene. That is to say, ensure that you make oncoming traffic and approaching traffic aware of the fact that  there has been an accident.

• Phone the emergency services – If there are other people around, get them to help with this

• Help the casualties – Immediately assess whether they are conscious or not. After that, If there is no response, check if they are breathing.

If the casualty is breathing, put them in a position where they are leaning forward or to one side to keep their airway open (the Recovery position). Move them as little as possible and avoid twisting them. After that, keep talking to the casualty calmly as they will be able to hear you, even if they are unconscious.

If the casualty is not breathing you will need to resuscitate them. Read more here.

• Treat any obvious bleeding and assess for signs of shock.
• Keep them warm and dry and reassure them calmly whilst waiting for an ambulance.

Written by Emma Hammett.

First Aid for Life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. We strongly advise that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

Email: emma@firstaidforlife.org.uk or telephone 020 8675 4036 for more information.

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Author: Emma Hammett