THAT’S FOR STANDARD UNLEADED GASOLINE. EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS INVOLVING ELECTRIC BIKES, SCOOTERS AND OTHER SMALL PERSONAL VEHICLES HAVE CLIMBED SHARPLY OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS. THAT’S ACCORDING TO UNITYPOINT HEALTH. IN 2020, UNITYPOINT REPORTED JUST 16 CRASH RELATED E.R. VISITS. THIS YEAR ALONE, THAT NUMBER HAS ALREADY REACHED 79. OVERALL, DOCTORS AT UNITYPOINT SAY THEY HAVE TREATED MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE WHO WERE HURT IN THESE TYPES OF CRASHES. AND IT’S NOT JUST CHILDREN WHO ARE GETTING HURT. DOCTORS SAY THEY ARE SEEING PATIENTS OF ALL AGES COME IN WITH INJURIES FROM BIKE AND SCOOTER ACCIDENTS. THESE THINGS ARE A LOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN MAYBE IS PORTRAYED. OR MAYBE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT’S IT’S NOT A LITTLE TOY AND IT’S NOT LIKE A SCOOTER OR A BICYCLE THAT LIKE WE ADULTS GREW UP WITH, THESE ARE TRULY POWERED VEHICLES AND KIDS GET HURT, KIDS GET BADLY HURT, RIGHT NOW, COMMUNITIES ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA ARE WORKING TO CLARIFY THEIR RULES SO RIDERS KNOW WHERE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO USE THESE VEHICLES. ANKENY AND NEWTON ALREADY PUT ORDINANC
Electric bike and scooter injuries surge in Iowa, UnityPoint Health reports
Emergency room visits involving electric bikes, scooters, and other small personal vehicles have climbed sharply over the past six years, according to UnityPoint Health.In 2020, UnityPoint reported just 16 crash-related emergency room visits. This year alone, that number has already reached 79. Overall, doctors at UnityPoint say they have treated more than 400 people hurt in these types of crashes. Doctors also noted that injuries are not limited to children, as patients of all ages are coming in with injuries from e-bike and scooter accidents. “These things are a lot more dangerous than maybe as portrayed, or maybe people understand, because it’s not a little toy, and it’s not like a scooter or a bicycle that, like we adults, grew up with,” said UnityPoint Health trauma surgeon Dr. Rick Sidwell. “These are truly powered vehicles, and kids get hurt, kids get badly hurt.” Right now, communities across central Iowa are working to clarify their rules so riders know where they are allowed to use these vehicles. Ankeny and Newton have already implemented ordinances, while Clive and Waukee are still working to pass similar rules.
Emergency room visits involving electric bikes, scooters, and other small personal vehicles have climbed sharply over the past six years, according to UnityPoint Health.
In 2020, UnityPoint reported just 16 crash-related emergency room visits. This year alone, that number has already reached 79.
Overall, doctors at UnityPoint say they have treated more than 400 people hurt in these types of crashes.
Doctors also noted that injuries are not limited to children, as patients of all ages are coming in with injuries from e-bike and scooter accidents.
“These things are a lot more dangerous than maybe as portrayed, or maybe people understand, because it’s not a little toy, and it’s not like a scooter or a bicycle that, like we adults, grew up with,” said UnityPoint Health trauma surgeon Dr. Rick Sidwell. “These are truly powered vehicles, and kids get hurt, kids get badly hurt.”
Right now, communities across central Iowa are working to clarify their rules so riders know where they are allowed to use these vehicles. Ankeny and Newton have already implemented ordinances, while Clive and Waukee are still working to pass similar rules.
