Scoot Safely, CPSC Warns
Dateline: 09/11/00
Responding to a 700 percent increase in reported that emergency room-treated injuries , the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued warnings to users of lightweight, foot-powered scooters.
According to CPSC data, over 9,400 scooter-related injuries have been treated in hospital emergency rooms so far this year, with over 2000 of those being reported since August. Nearly 90 percent of the injuries are to children under 15 years of age, reports CPSC.
Hospital records indicate that fractures and dislocations related to falls from the scooters accounted for 29 percent of the injuries. Most of the fractures and dislocations were to arms and hands.
The scooters, which first hit the U.S. market in late 1999 are newer, generally small and lighter than the original foot-propelled scooters of the 1950s. Typically costing from $80 to $120 and weighing less than 10 pounds, the scooters have become a common site on sidewalks, playgrounds, parking lots and streets. "These scooters are the 'in' thing with kids heading back to school," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "Unfortunately, many kids are ending up in hospital emergency rooms instead of classrooms. Wearing safety gear can help prevent injuries."
CPSC estimates that more than 60 percent of scooter-related injuries could be prevented or reduced in severity by wearing the same protective gear used in inline skating. CPSC recommends that riders, especially children, wear proper safety gear including a helmet, and knee and elbow pads to help prevent injuries.
"The best investment against injury is protective gear which can cost less than $35," states the CPSC.
As for safe use of the scooters, CPSC recommends the following:
- Wear a helmet that meets CPSC's standard, along with knee and elbow pads.
- Ride the scooters on smooth, paved surfaces without any traffic. Avoid
streets, or surfaces with water, sand, gravel or dirt.
- Do not ride the scooter at night.
Reference Links
CPSC Data on Scooter Injuries
Download the entire CPSC report on the rash of scooter-related injuries. (Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader.)CPSC Guide to Inline Skaters' Safety Gear
Describes protective gear for inline skating -- same gear is recommended for scooter riders.Consumer Product Incident Report - Online
By filling out this online form, you can report any injury or death involving consumer products to us, or report an unsafe product to CPSC.
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