100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

One every three days: emergency department grapples with e-scooter-related injuries

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Parking and boat ramp retained as river plan approved

Upgrades to a popular waterfront area as part of a 20-year vision have been endorsed by a local council. Following extensive consultation, Noosa Council has More

Waterfront ‘masterpiece’ heralds new chapter in luxury

A collection of waterfront penthouses with “never-to-be-built-out views” has sparked record interest from local and interstate buyers. The luxury residences at Comino at The Cove More

Photo of the day: seaside flock

Helen Browne snapped this photo of seagulls patrolling the shoreline at Mooloolaba Beach. If you have a photo of the day offering, email photo@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. Photos More

Waste workers win pay rise after ongoing industrial action

Rubbish collection staff in Noosa have secured pay increases and improved working conditions after months of bargaining and industrial action. Transport Workers’ Union members at More

Church on former tourist site set to open

A new church with seating for almost 800 people has set a date for its first service. Sanctuary Church posted to social media earlier this More

State reveals why it is pushing for controversial project

The state government has submitted its list of reasons it wants a contentious hinterland development proposal to be approved, as part of a court More

The Sunshine Coast’s main emergency ward has been hit by scores of e-scooter-related injuries in 12 months.

Data collected by the Sunshine Coast Health Trauma Service revealed there were 118 presentations to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital Emergency Department, from January last year to January this year.

Sunshine Coast Health medical director of trauma service Dr Andrew Hobbins-King said the largest cohort of e-scooter incidents belonged to adolescents and, in many cases, their injuries were significant.

“The data shows a large paediatric cohort of patients under the age of 18 contributing to 56.8 per cent of presentations,” he said.

“The vast majority of overall presentations were male, amounting to 72.9 per cent.

“Injuries also seem to vary between presentations. However, the majority of patients did have significant injuries, with 61 per cent of patients having at least one fractured bone.

More than 60 per cent of injuries from e-scooters included a fractured bone.  Picture: Shutterstock

“Injuries varied from mild abrasions and lacerations to fractures, collapsed lungs and brain bleeds.”

Sunshine Coast Health executive director of medical services Dr Marlene Pearce said many of these e-scooter incidents could have been avoided.

“What is concerning is only half of those patients were reportedly wearing a helmet at the time of the incident,” she said.

“Speed also seems to be a factor in e-scooter-related injuries, with our data revealing almost half of patients who ended up in our emergency department were speeding.

“We are currently seeing around one e-scooter-related injury presentation to SCUH’s emergency department every three days, and many of these could be avoided or minimised by taking safety precautions.”

The state government’s rules for personal mobility devices website safety tips include: not using a phone while riding; using a light and high-visibility jacket at night to increase visibility; obeying road rules and speed limits (which is 25km/h on the road and 12km/h on footpaths); and not riding under the influence of alcohol.

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share