E-scooter injuries among young Canadians are on the rise, causing concerns among medical experts. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto, and chair of the injury prevention committee for the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), has witnessed a significant increase in e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor scrapes to severe brain trauma and fatalities.
According to Rosenfield, the number of e-scooter injury cases at SickKids has surged from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024, and 107 in 2025, with expectations of surpassing those figures this year. Similarly, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, e-scooter injuries have multiplied by ten since 2023, leading to severe facial injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries among children.
A CPS survey revealed alarming statistics, documenting 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations lasting more than two days due to e-scooter accidents in the past year. Head injuries were prevalent in about half of the cases, with most victims not wearing helmets, as noted by Rosenfield.
The severity of injuries tends to affect boys aged between 10 and 15 years the most. A recent study in the Emergency Medicine Journal highlighted a similar trend in the UK, where e-scooter-related hospital cases escalated from under 10 in 2019 to nearly 150 in 2024, with head injuries being predominant and a lack of helmet usage among the injured.
One poignant case in Canada involved a 12-year-old boy, Shawn Dunkley, who suffered a fractured skull after an e-scooter accident in London, Ontario, reaching speeds of 69 kilometers per hour. Despite being in a coma for over a week, Shawn made a full recovery after extensive medical care and rehabilitation.
Rosenfield emphasized the misconception of e-scooters as toys, highlighting their potential dangers with speeds reaching up to 40 kilometers per hour. The unclear regulations and varying laws across provinces in Canada contribute to the lack of awareness among parents and riders, underscoring the need for public education, clearer rules, and better enforcement to enhance safety measures.
While Rosenfield acknowledges the benefits of e-scooters in urban settings, he stresses the importance of determining how to ensure their safe use. Collaborative efforts involving education, parental awareness, manufacturer responsibility, and stricter enforcement are crucial in mitigating e-scooter injuries among young riders.
