Electric scooter injuries and how to prevent them - Electric Scooter

Electric scooters are an innovative way for people to get around smoothly. These electric cars are lightweight and easy to control. They cost a lot less than having and maintaining an electric car plus, it is easy to learn how to drive and maneuver it. However, just like any other vehicles, these also bring a certain degree of injuries. Sad to say, electric scooter injuries can happen anytime, anywhere. It only takes seconds to turn a smooth scoot into a shocking accident. Therefore, it is a must for every electric scooter rider to follow precautionary measures.

As a matter of fact in 2009, about 67,000 children and young adults went to the accident and emergency department for scooter – related injuries.

Risk factors of electric scooter injuries

According to research, children who often use the electric scooter with parental guidance are more likely to get serious injuries. With that being said, children 8 years below must always be closely supervised.

There are a lot of risk factors which can lead to serious electric scooter injuries. As a matter of fact, they come out as the usual problem that people are less likely to pay attention to such as the following:

Scooting after a tiresome and exhausting day do not only cause electric scooter injuries but serious sickness as well
Taking another person on your electric scooter; number of people is more than the recommended maximum passenger capacity of manufacturers
Riding the electric scooter during bad weather conditions such as stormy and rainy days
Violating the traffic rules and regulations. Best example is beating the red light
Not wearing safety and protective gears
Attempting to do dangerous moves
Performing and/or practicing dangerous exhibitions
Not paying attention to passersby and vehicles in traffic
Violating the traffic light
Riding the electric scooter on the pavements of walkers
Scooting over dangerous terrains
Not maintaining your electric scooter properly
Riding the electric scooter during hot mornings and afternoons may cause heat stroke
Riding an electric scooter late at night may cause crashes especially if you do not have reflectors/reflector vest or neon lights on
Some parts of the electric scooter are defective
Suddenly scooting out of the driveway and getting hit by another vehicle. In line with this, research show that children 10 years old below experience this
Making a turn without a warning. This collision occur because the electric scooter rider makes an unexpected left or right turn without signaling, scanning, or looking behind for traffic

Common electric scooter injuries

If you or your child is a reckless electric scooter rider, you will get injuries in a snap of a finger (and nobody likes that to happen). Enlisted below are the following common electric injuries you do not want to experience:

Overuse injury

Overuse injury occurs when too much stress and pressure is placed on the joints and tissues by overdoing the electric scooting activity.

Fractures and sprains

Fractures refer to broken bones, joints, or toes while sprains refer to joint injuries.

If you have been fractured and/or sprained while riding an electric scooter, go to the nearest podiatrist immediately.

In the meantime, if you do not have the means to pay for hospital bills just do the RICE method:

R – rest

I – ice

C – compression

E – elevation

Strains

Strains refer to pulled muscles especially in the feet and ankles.

Dislocation

Dislocation of the bones is a serious electric scooter injury where a bone moved out of its proper place.

Compartment syndrome

The compartment syndrome usually occurs to scooting children.

It is a condition that develops when swelling takes place in an area where nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and bones have no space to expand. The swelling is caused by low blood flow and fluid build – up.

Contusions

Contusions are similar to large bruises and appear after an ankle and/or brain injury. However, a contusion swells due to inflammation so go to the nearest podiatrist immediately to prevent serious injury.

Cuts, wounds, and abrasions

If you attained cuts and abrasions by riding an electric scooter, make sure your first aid kit is stocked with the following:

Plasters of different shapes and sizes
Sterile eye dressings
Sterile gauze dressings of different sizes
Safety pins
Disposable sterile gloves
Tweezers
Scissors
Skin rash cream
Cream or spray to relieve sting
Anti – septic cream
Painkillers
Distilled water to clean cuts, wounds, and abrasions
Triangular bandages
Crepe rolled bandages
Stretch bandages
Adhesive bandages
Alcohol – free cleansing wipes
Povidone iodine

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a broad and flat ligament from the bottom of the foot to the front of the heel and toe base. It is a common electric scooter injury to children. This pain comes from the growth plate of the heel bone – a strip of soft tissue where a new bone forms to accommodate adolescents lengthening of the feet.

During their growth spurt years (8 – 13 years old for girls and until 15 for boys) children are at risk to heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis is usually caused by the following:

Overuse of electric scooter
Repetitive pounding
Constantly pushing down the electric scooter
Coming down hard on the feet

Concussions

Concussion is a form of sports – related head and brain injury. It is a traumatic injury that occurs when the head is shaken hard enough to hit hard against the skull. This occurs when an electric scooter rider falls and hits his head hard.

To make matters worse, if you suffered from multiple concussions, it will have a long – lasting and growing life – changing effect.

Ways to prevent electric scooter injuries

Regardless of a rider’s age and level of experience, injuries and accidents can happen at a snap of a finger. Many electric scooter – related injuries can be prevented if you follow the tips below:

Avoid scooting in dangerous places

Do not attempt to scoot on the following dangerous places:

Steep hills and downhill
Slippery roads
Uneven surfaces
Crowded streets
Crowded walkways
In the middle of a traffic jam

Maintain the electric scooter in good condition

Always keep in mind to maintain the electric scooter in good condition. Learn how to do the following maintenance to your electric hover board:

Solder the detachable parts
Memorize how to disassemble and assemble the product’s dimensions
Check for defective parts
Check for missing parts
Always keep the tires clean
Check the battery from time to time and avoid it from over recharging

Now that you know the serious injuries that may come when you are a reckless electric scooter rider, always keep safe from now on. Take care of yourself and your electric scooter to have a smooth and safety scooting.

After all, riding an electric scooter is a cool way to get around town with friends and siblings.

Electric scooter injuries and how to prevent them – Electric Scooter