Associated Press, 6-15-05
WASHINGTON - Children are whizzing through neighborhoods on
speedy scooters powered by electric or gasoline engines, a growing trend
that is putting thousands of youngsters in hospital emergency rooms.
"We've seen these injuries occurring all too often," said Gary Smith, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. "Children often are riding in and around traffic, they aren't wearing helmets, and they're traveling at high rates of speed."
In its study released Tuesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission provided no estimates on scooter sales or use, and new methods of tallying injuries prevented comparisons with previous years. But the agency said the obvious jump in popularity of the mostly two-wheelers prompted the study of related injuries.
"We've seen these injuries occurring all too often," said Gary Smith, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. "Children often are riding in and around traffic, they aren't wearing helmets, and they're traveling at high rates of speed."
In its study released Tuesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission provided no estimates on scooter sales or use, and new methods of tallying injuries prevented comparisons with previous years. But the agency said the obvious jump in popularity of the mostly two-wheelers prompted the study of related injuries.
Electric scooters have been subject to a handful of recalls
in the past year, including 275,000 on Tuesday.
Razor USA LLC recalled about 246,000 electric scooters after receiving 261 reports of handlebar welds breaking or bending, which resulted in at least 16 injuries, including three broken arms.
Mattel Inc.'s Fisher-Price recalled about 29,000 scooters after wheel problems caused at least two facial injuries and two hand injuries to children.
"The good news is that parents can help significantly reduce deaths and injuries to children by taking simple safety precautions," agency Chairman Hal Stratton said in a statement.
Alan Korn, public policy director for the National Safe Kids Campaign, said the study confirmed his group's own observations of scooter accidents in recent years.
"Parents need to be aware of what their children can handle and what they can't," said Korn, who stressed the importance of adult supervision, including making sure the scooter is well maintained.
The CPSC recommends that children under 13 not ride motorized scooters that can go over 10 mph.
"The younger the age, the riskier the riding," spokeswoman Patty Davis said.
But Smith, the Columbus physician, said no one under 16 should ride powered scooters since children can lack the judgment, coordination and maturity to safely operate them.
Though scooters are generally limited to about 20 mph, Smith said modifications can power them up to 50 mph.
Battery-powered electric scooters tend to go slower and have smaller tires than gas-powered ones. The CPSC estimated that 2003 sales of both types were nearly identical, though gas-powered scooters accounted for more accidents - about 55 percent, compared with 37 percent on electric scooters. The type of scooter in the other accidents was unknown.
Razor USA LLC recalled about 246,000 electric scooters after receiving 261 reports of handlebar welds breaking or bending, which resulted in at least 16 injuries, including three broken arms.
Mattel Inc.'s Fisher-Price recalled about 29,000 scooters after wheel problems caused at least two facial injuries and two hand injuries to children.
"The good news is that parents can help significantly reduce deaths and injuries to children by taking simple safety precautions," agency Chairman Hal Stratton said in a statement.
Alan Korn, public policy director for the National Safe Kids Campaign, said the study confirmed his group's own observations of scooter accidents in recent years.
"Parents need to be aware of what their children can handle and what they can't," said Korn, who stressed the importance of adult supervision, including making sure the scooter is well maintained.
The CPSC recommends that children under 13 not ride motorized scooters that can go over 10 mph.
"The younger the age, the riskier the riding," spokeswoman Patty Davis said.
But Smith, the Columbus physician, said no one under 16 should ride powered scooters since children can lack the judgment, coordination and maturity to safely operate them.
Though scooters are generally limited to about 20 mph, Smith said modifications can power them up to 50 mph.
Battery-powered electric scooters tend to go slower and have smaller tires than gas-powered ones. The CPSC estimated that 2003 sales of both types were nearly identical, though gas-powered scooters accounted for more accidents - about 55 percent, compared with 37 percent on electric scooters. The type of scooter in the other accidents was unknown.
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