The popularity of e-scooters in Canada is on the rise, but so are the number of injuries, especially among young people, caution pediatricians, emergency physicians, and other 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), noted a significant increase in e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor scrapes to severe brain injuries and fatalities.
In the past, severe e-scooter injuries were rare occurrences, but now medical professionals are seeing a surge in such cases. At SickKids, e-scooter injury cases escalated from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025, with projections indicating a further increase this year.
Similarly, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, e-scooter injuries have surged by tenfold since 2023, with Dr. Laurie Plotnick, leading the hospital’s emergency trauma team, highlighting cases of severe facial injuries, broken jaws, and brain injuries among children.
A recent CPS survey highlighted concerning statistics, documenting 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations lasting more than two days due to e-scooter accidents. Head injuries were prevalent in about half of the cases, with a common factor being the lack of helmet usage.
The severity of injuries is particularly pronounced among boys aged 10 to 15, with many incidents involving high speeds and lack of protective gear. A study from the Emergency Medicine Journal in the UK showed a similar trend, with a significant increase in e-scooter-related hospital cases and low helmet usage rates.
One harrowing personal account from London, Ontario, detailed the experience of Shawn Dunkley, who sustained critical injuries in an e-scooter accident. Shawn’s story underscores the importance of helmet usage and safety precautions for e-scooter riders, especially children.
While e-scooters offer convenience and environmental benefits, experts stress the urgent need for clearer regulations, enhanced public education, and stricter enforcement to mitigate the escalating risks associated with e-scooter usage. Dr. Rosenfield advocates for a balanced approach that promotes safe e-scooter use while addressing the growing safety concerns.