ER doctors report 161% increase in scooter injuries in downtown Salt Lake City
(KUTV) — It's a popular trend around downtown Salt Lake City, but some emergency room doctors say it's causing them to see more patients.
“I made the decision to ride with my dog,” said Ellen Lloyd, who lives in downtown Salt Lake and rides electric scooters often. “He got a little spooked when I went over a crack and kind of pulled back on me. I took a pretty good little spill,” she said.
She is now one of many adding to a growing trend of scooter-related emergency room visits in the Salt Lake area.
University of Utah emergency room doctors said they saw 161 percent increase in scooter injuries compared to 2017, with a notable increase over the last month, in particular, that doctors said was "quite concerning."
“The more people use these things, the more likely we are to see significant injuries," said Dr. Patrick Ockerse, an emergency physician with the University of Utah Hospital.
The uptick in scooter-related injuries includes scrapes, bruises, cuts and lacerations, Ockerse said, but occasionally they will see more serious head injuries and broken bones.
“Anytime you have a motorized vehicle that can go up to 15 miles per hour and somebody doesn’t know how to use it, they can hurt themselves,” Ockerse said.
He's hoping people will listen to the safety messages that come with the scooters, as well as not ride on the sidewalks, because pedestrians are getting hit as well.
“I think there's a lot of people using it inappropriately—so driving through crowds, congested areas, places they shouldn't be driving in, or using them while intoxicated,” Ockerse said.
Also, he said people should be using safety equipment while riding, which scooter companies reportedly require riders to do.
“Wear a helmet, be smart, use some common sense, try to avoid crowds and ride where it's safe," Ockerse said.
Those are all tips Ellen Lloyd said she would consider after her fall.
