Scooters a dangerous toy

The lightweight, collapsible, foot-powered scooter has been responsible for  over 200,000 emergency room visits a year, says Gary Smith, the director for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s hospital in Columbus Ohio , up 40% in recent years. Injuries associated with other toys, from toy food to toy guns, continued at a steady pace. Boys and young children were the most at risk, and injuries resulting from falling were the most common. Ride-on toys, lad by foot scooters, is at the top of the list as the most dangerous toy. “Many of our young patients, here at ChiroCarolina®, have suffered from concussions,  and sprain-strains — All caused by those razor scooters.  We’ve had to give some intensive instructions on safety and preventing injury to both parents & their children.” states Dr. Ferzaan Ali, chiropractor at Charlotte’s ChiroCarolina® chiropractic clinic.

scooter -handout from USAtoday article

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 52,500 such injuries and one scooter-related death in 2013. Scooter Safety:

• Wear a helmet
• Wear elbow and knee pads
• Riders younger than 8 should be closely supervised
• Children should never ride in moving traffic

The Toy Industry Association stated that “safety is the toy industry’s top priority every day of the year,” and that toymakers must meet “rigorous U.S. safety standards.”  Their statement also noted that injuries will happen when children play, but that does not necessarily mean the injury was caused by the toy. Parents purchasing scooters and other toys for the holidays can help prevent injuries by purchasing age appropriate toys. Let kids play and be adventuresome, and still be safe. Emergency rooms, including Charlotte NC emergency rooms,  treat nearly 12 million injuries annually in children and teens, states the the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.