SUNSHINE Coast Health is urging the community to practice safe e-scooter use, as new data highlights a concerning rise in e-scooter related emergency cases.
Over a 12-month period from January 2023 to January 2024, the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) Emergency Department recorded 118 e-scooter incident presentations—an average of one every three days.
Dr Andrew HobbinsKing, Medical Director of the Sunshine Coast Health Trauma Service, noted that adolescents were the most affected group, making up 56.8 per cent of these cases. Alarmingly, 72.9 per cent of all incidents involved males.
“Injuries ranged from mild abrasions to severe conditions like fractures, collapsed lungs, and brain bleeds,” Dr Hobbins-King said, with 61 per cent of patients sustaining at least one broken bone. Dr Marlene Pearce, Executive Director of Medical Services said many injuries could have been avoided.
“Only half of the patients were wearing helmets, and nearly half were speeding,” Dr Pearce said. “We’re seeing an e-scooter-related injury presentation at SCUH every three days, many of which could be prevented with proper safety measures.”
Users are advised to not use phones while riding, wear visible clothing and lights at night, obey speed limits and avoiding riding under the influence of alcohol