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Pediatric E-Scooter and Traditional Scooter Injuries: Emergency Department Visits 2015-2024
Katherine E Douglas1, Alexander W Hirsch, Andrew M Fine
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|July 6, 2026
Summary
Pediatric electronic scooter (e-scooter) injuries are rising and more severe than traditional scooter injuries. E-scooter use leads to more hospitalizations and specific internal injuries, highlighting significant safety concerns for children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric emergency medicine
- Injury prevention and safety
- Public health surveillance
Background:
- Electronic scooters (e-scooters) have surged in popularity among children.
- Traditional scooter injuries are well-documented, but e-scooter specific injury data is emerging.
- Understanding the comparative risks of e-scooters versus traditional scooters is crucial for public safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the characteristics and outcomes of pediatric injuries from e-scooters versus traditional scooters.
- To identify risk factors associated with non-home disposition (hospitalization, transfer, death) for scooter-related injuries.
- To analyze temporal trends in emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric e-scooter injuries.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed ED visits for scooter injuries from 2015-2024 using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS).
- Product codes were used to differentiate e-scooter from traditional scooter mechanisms.
- Statistical analyses, including proportion differences and multivariable modeling, compared injury types and disposition, adjusting for covariates. Time trends were evaluated.
Main Results:
- The study identified an estimated 502,324 ED visits for scooter injuries, with e-scooters accounting for 18.2% (91,523 visits).
- E-scooter injuries were more prevalent in males and older children (12-18 years).
- Compared to traditional scooters, e-scooter injuries showed higher odds of non-home disposition (aOR=2.99) and internal injuries (12.1% vs 9.0%), with increasing e-scooter injury proportions over time (aOR=1.22 annually).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric e-scooter injuries are associated with a greater likelihood of non-home disposition and distinct injury patterns compared to traditional scooter injuries.
- The proportion of pediatric ED visits for e-scooter injuries has significantly increased over the last decade.
- Findings underscore the need for increased awareness among healthcare providers and the public regarding the risks associated with pediatric e-scooter use.
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