SickKids Hospital seeing more kids injured by e-scooters

SickKids Hospital says it's seeing a rise in the number and severity of e-scooter injuries among children this summer, despite the fact the vehicles are banned from Toronto's streets.

Between June and July of this year, 16 children have come to the hospital with injuries related to e-scooters, compared to five in that same period last year, SickKids reported in a news release Friday.

Dr. Joshua Ramsjist, a pediatric surgeon at SickKids, calls it a concerning trend, saying many of those injuries are also worse than usual.

"We're no longer talking just about bumps and bruises," he said in an interview Sunday. "We're talking about kids that have had to start to be admitted, and some who needed procedures that could be life-saving."

He said most of those injuries involved children who were riding e-scooters without helmets.

"As a result of that, they've suffered significant head trauma," he said.

The city of Toronto has banned the use of e-scooters for people of all ages. The city says it declined to opt into the provincial e-scooter pilot due to safety reasons and concerns for pedestrians. 

But Caryma Sa'd, a lawyer who also uses an e-scooter, says the ban isn't helping public safety.

"I think the ban contributes to some of the uncertainty and lack of enforcement of what could be good rules to keep people safe," she said.

For those who choose to ride e-scooters, SickKids recommends that they wear helmets, abide by local regulations and follow the scooter manufacturer's warnings on age restrictions.