Unpowered Scooter-Related Injuries among Adolescents and Adults in the United States 2007-2017

Abstract

United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported a 700% increase in Emergency Department (ED) visits for injuries attributed to unpowered scooter use from January through October 2000. Our objective is to investigate injuries associated with the use of unpowered scooters among adolescents from the age of >9 years to 20 years in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance Study (NEISS) data set from 2007-2017. We analyzed unpowered scooter-related injuries in the NEISS data set using variables: SCOOTER, INJURED, AFTER, OFF, AT and IN; the product code for injuries related to unpowered scooters is 1329, and age ≥9 years and 9 - 19 - <99 years. Distribution by race: White 39.65%, Not Specified (NS) 38.94%, Black/African American 13.98% and Others (Asian, American Indians, Alaskan natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders) 7.43%. Body parts injured: head 16.19%, followed by face 8.49%, finger 8.30%, lower trunk 8.30%, ankle 5.60%, upper trunk 5.35%, internal injuries 0.99% and others 14.28%. Most of the injuries were mild: Treated and Discharged 89.80%, Hospitalized 7.68%, and Death in ED 0.05%. The locations of injuries were: Occurred at Home 43.47%, UNK 29.78%, Sports 12.63%, Public 6.49%, School 5.35%, and Street 2.22%. Injury trend: a rise until 2010, a decline until 2015 and, then a sharp rise through 2017. Injuries from the use of unpowered scooters are a rising threat that should be given attention. Outcome: Most of the injuries 69.80% were mild treated and discharged, 7.68% were hospitalized, while death in ED was 0.05%. Whereas: Transfer to referral hospital was about the same as in adults. Although most of these injuries were minor, head injuries could lead to more serious problems, and severe injuries could be life-threatening.