As the popularity of e-scooters grows in Canada, medical professionals are cautioning about a surge in injuries, particularly among younger individuals, as regulations struggle to keep up. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto, and the chair of the Canadian Pediatric Society’s injury prevention committee, has witnessed a significant increase in e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities.
Previously rare, severe injuries are now more common, with an escalation in cases at SickKids from 26 in 2023 to 107 in 2025, indicating a worrying trend. Dr. Laurie Plotnick from the Montreal Children’s Hospital notes a tenfold increase in e-scooter injuries since 2023, with children sustaining severe facial and brain injuries, often without wearing helmets.
A recent survey by the Canadian Pediatric Society highlighted the concerning rise in e-scooter-related deaths, ICU admissions, and hospitalizations, with head injuries prevalent in half of the cases. The survey also emphasized the lack of helmet usage in most incidents, particularly among boys aged 10 to 15.
Similar trends are observed globally, as evidenced by a study in the Emergency Medicine Journal showing a significant rise in e-scooter injuries in U.K. hospitals. The data aligns with Canadian experiences, underlining the critical need for safety measures and regulatory improvements.
One poignant case in London, Ontario, involved a 12-year-old boy, Shawn Dunkley, who suffered a serious e-scooter accident, resulting in a fractured skull and a coma. Despite the severity of the incident, Shawn made a full recovery after weeks of intensive care and rehabilitation, underscoring the importance of helmet use.
Medical professionals stress that e-scooters are not toys, despite common perceptions, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and increased awareness among parents and riders. Issues with unclear laws and varying provincial regulations pose challenges to ensuring safety, highlighting the urgency for standardized rules and better enforcement to prevent further injuries.
