'Concerning trend:' SickKids ER has seen 16 injuries related to e-scooter use so far this summer
The Hospital for Sick Children says it is seeing a notable uptick this summer in the number of injuries related to e-scooters and e-bikes in Toronto, calling the increase a “concerning trend.”
In a news release published on its website, SickKids said in June and July alone, the emergency department has seen 16 injuries related to e-scooter use, compared to just five injuries over the same period last year.
“E-scooters and other similar devices can be attractive to children who may view them as toys or youth who use them for transportation,” Dr. Suzanne Beno, Medical Co-Director of the Trauma Program and Emergency Physician at SickKids, said in the release.
“We are seeing a notable increase in patients presenting to the Emergency Department with significant injuries from e-scooter use this season.”
Beno noted that high speeds, a lack of helmet use, young age and interaction with motor vehicles “all place children and youth at risk of serious injury if there is a fall or collision.”
According to the hospital, since 2020, the SickKids Trauma Registry has seen a “significant increase” in the number of serious injured tied to battery-powered devices, with e-scooters accounting for about 85 per cent of “battery-powered device” injuries from 2021 to 2024.
In more than 50 per cent of the injuries seen at the SickKids emergency department, the patient was not wearing a helmet, the hospital said.
“The dramatic rise in injury rates in recent years, and this summer alone, reflects a potentially emerging and concerning trend,” the news release continued.
SickKids notes that children under the age of 16 should not operate e-devices and anyone who does use battery-powered devices should always wear a proper-fitting helmet that is in good condition.
The hospital also encouraged users to follow the manufacturers warnings on age, height, and weight restrictions, adding that these devices should never be operated with multiple riders.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Canadian women among those who allege Harrods boss sexually abused them
CTV News has learned there are multiple Canadian women alleging they were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the late Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed.
PM Justin Trudeau to adjust cabinet roles today, as Pablo Rodriguez quits
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be making adjustments to his cabinet today, CTV News has confirmed. The small shuffle is the result of longtime cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez quitting.
BREAKING
BREAKING Health Canada approves updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
An updated version of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by Canada’s health agency.
Influencer couple denies leaving kids alone on cruise
For most people, dinner on a cruise ship is a time to relax. But when influencer couple Abby and Matt Howard decided to kick back with a dinner à deux, they ended up kicking up a storm.
BREAKING
BREAKING François Legault wants the Trudeau government to fall
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling on the Bloc Québécois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.
Hezbollah leader vows retaliation against Israel for attacks on devices as both sides trade strikes
The leader of Hezbollah vowed to keep up daily strikes on Israel despite this week's mass bombing attack on its communication devices, and said Israelis displaced by the fighting from homes near the Lebanon border would not be able to return until the war in Gaza ends.
Canadian among dozens arrested in Ghost app global cybercrime crackdown
A Canadian suspect was among dozens arrested around the world in a global crackdown on the encrypted communication platform, called Ghost, according to the RCMP.
Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy
A 29-year-old Quebec woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a five-year-old boy southwest of Montreal.
Huge python grabs Thai woman in her kitchen, squeezes her two hours before she can be freed
A 64-year-old woman was preparing to do her evening dishes at her home outside Bangkok when she felt a sharp pain in her thigh and looked down to see a huge python taking hold of her.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Montreal
-
Public services are becoming dehumanized, warns Quebec Ombudsman
Public services in Quebec are becoming dehumanized, warns Quebec Ombudsman Marc-André Dowd in his 2023-2024 annual report, which is filled with concrete examples.
-
BREAKING
BREAKING François Legault wants the Trudeau government to fall
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling on the Bloc Québécois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.
-
Anita Anand taking on transport portfolio after Pablo Rodriguez leaves cabinet
Treasury Board President Anita Anand will take on the additional role of transport minister this afternoon, after Pablo Rodriguez resigned from cabinet to run for the Quebec Liberal leadership.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa's idling bylaw faces bumpy road as new rules approved to address unnecessary idling
Ottawa is on the road to new rules to crack down on unnecessary idling in 2025, despite concerns about a lack of enforcement, insufficient education for drivers and allowing idling in school zones.
-
'We want to see our students back on buses': Talks set for Monday to restore school bus service in Renfrew County
The school bus authority that covers Renfrew County and the group that represents drivers are expected to meet for the second time this month Monday, as 10,000 students remain without a ride to school.
-
5 teenagers 'facing consequences' after 15-year-old girl assaulted at Pembroke, Ont. school, OPP says
Two teenage girls are facing assault charges and three other girls will be "facing consequences" under the Youth Criminal Justice Act following the assault of a girl at a Pembroke, Ont. school, according to police.
Northern Ontario
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Highway 101 remains closed west of Timmins after fatal crash
One person is dead and another is in hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries after a crash involving a commercial and passenger vehicle on Highway 101 west of Timmins on Wednesday afternoon.
-
Driver hauling 36,000 kg of ammonia arrested for impaired driving near Timmins, Ont.
James Bay Ontario Provincial Police have charged four commercial vehicle drivers with impaired, including one who was hauling 36,000 kilograms of ammonia hydrate.
-
One person dead following North Bay industrial incident
North Bay Police Service says one person has died following an industrial accident at the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission Rail Yard on Tuesday.
Kitchener
-
Three missing people from Kitchener haven't been seen since Sept. 1
Police are hoping the public can help them locate three missing people from Kitchener.
-
Some Waterloo Region families still waitlisted for before and after school care
Almost three weeks into the school year and some families are still on waitlists for before and after school care and it’s exposing some major gaps in the education system.
-
PM Justin Trudeau to adjust cabinet roles today, as Pablo Rodriguez quits
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be making adjustments to his cabinet today, CTV News has confirmed. The small shuffle is the result of longtime cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez quitting.
London
-
Shooting in London at unknown location
A shooting early Wednesday morning is being investigated by London police after a man showed up at hospital with gunshot wounds — the catch, police don't know where the shooting happened.
-
Sentencing hearing in field party shooting
The mother and brother of an 18-year-old who was shot and killed during a teen field party more than three years ago gave emotional victim impact statements on Wednesday.
-
Children's Museum needs another $1 million to open doors by year's end
The London Children’s Museum says it will not be able to open its new site by the end of the year, as planned, unless it can come up with another $1 million.
Windsor
-
Active investigation on Ottawa Street east of Kildare Road
An active investigation is underway on Ottawa Street, east of Kildare Road.
-
Vacant building fire on Wyandotte Street East
Windsor firefighters responded to a vacant building fire on Wednesday night.
-
Over 320 screenings to be featured at WIFF, $200,000 investment announced
The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) has announced its lineup for this year’s festival.
Barrie
-
Two Barrie men charged in connection with double homicide at Keswick park
Two men from Barrie have been charged after a deadly shooting at a park in Keswick on Wednesday.
-
Brides and vendors claim they were ripped off by Barrie photographer
A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
-
Man charged with second-degree murder in death of 76-year-old woman in Mono
A 49-year-old man is charged in the death of a 76-year-old woman after police were called to a residence on Highway 10 about a suspicious death in the Town of Mono on Tuesday night.
Winnipeg
-
Tornado, severe thunderstorm watches issued for parts of Manitoba and Ontario
After a soggy, chaotic few days in Manitoba, more severe thunderstorms could be on the way to parts of the province on Thursday.
-
Evacuation at Université de Saint-Boniface after suspicious item found on campus
A Winnipeg university was evacuated Thursday morning due to a suspicious item on campus.
-
Manitoba cabinet minister 'inadvertently' violated rules: ethics commissioner
Manitoba's ethics commissioner has found an NDP cabinet minister was in the wrong when he failed to disclose he had a business contract with the government, but he is not recommending a penalty.
Atlantic
-
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs kicks off provincial election
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has called for a provincial election. Voters will go to the polls on Oct. 21, as prescribed by the province's fixed-date election law.
-
Public asked to avoid Dartmouth Commons area after bear spotted; two schools in hold-and-secure
Police are asking people to avoid the Dartmouth Commons area in Dartmouth, N.S., as they assist with a wildlife call for a bear.
-
Nova Scotia adding 14 pharmacies to primary care clinic program
Fourteen pharmacies in Nova Scotia will join the community pharmacy primary care clinic program this fall.
N.L.
-
Newfoundland and Labrador monitoring rise in whooping cough cases: medical officer
Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
-
Dispute over unrecognized Inuit group halts major conference for Canadian North
A 16-year-old biennial event aimed at fostering business in the country's eastern Arctic and northern regions has been cancelled indefinitely as a dispute unfolds between Inuit in Canada and a Labrador group claiming to share their heritage.
-
Cow cuddling: Why a Newfoundland farm is offering quality time with these 'gentle creatures'
Jim Lester’s farm hopped on the cow-cuddling trend in early August, and his time slots have been pretty well sold out ever since.
Edmonton
-
Alberta mayor apologizes for comments about killing feral cats
The mayor of Fort Saskatchewan apologized on Thursday for comments she made earlier this week about killing feral cats.
-
$149M approved by province for Jasper wildfire recovery
The Alberta government will provide $149 million for Jasper's recovery from a wildfire that burned one third of its townsite, the province announced on Thursday.
-
Edmonton's first-ever Chipotle now open
American fast-food restaurant Chipotle opened its first location in Edmonton at 10:45 on Thursday morning.
Calgary
-
Calgary police investigate sexual assault of girl at Fish Creek Park
Calgary police are investigating the sexual assault of a young girl in Fish Creek Park.
-
Speed investigated in deadly Macleod Trail motorcycle crash
Calgary police say speed is being investigated as a factor in a deadly two-vehicle crash on Wednesday evening.
-
Calgary stair climbing challenge at McHugh Bluffs supports military personnel
Calgarians can mark military family appreciation day (MFAD) Friday by following in the footsteps of Lieutenant-Colonel Sandy Cooper in a stair climbing challenge called Stairs of Strength.
Regina
-
Tornado confirmed near Langbank, Sask.: ECCC
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has confirmed a tornado touched down Wednesday evening near Langbank, Sask.
-
Sask. premier's popularity hits 2 year low, poll says
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's popularity has hit a two year low, according to a recent poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute.
-
RCMP called to serious collision near Wapella, Sask.
RCMP say officers were sent to a serious crash Wednesday night involving a semi and passenger truck about three kilometres east of Wapella, Sask.
Saskatoon
-
In letters to slain girlfriend's family, Thomas Hamp said he thinks weed caused his psychotic break
Thomas Hamp says he believed secret police were out to kidnap, torture, and kill him when he fatally stabbed his girlfriend Emily Sanche in February of 2022.
-
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack
A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge.
-
'I thought I was dead': Man electrocuted, burned at SaskPower hydro dam calls for compensation
May 9, 2022 was the day Blayne McKay thought he was going to die. He called his wife to say goodbye, after getting electrocuted at the SaskPower Island Falls Hydroelectric Station, about 100 kilometres northwest of Flin Flon.
Vancouver
-
Video shows historic bridge in Kamloops, B.C., collapsing after fire
The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
-
1 dead after Langley crash; Highway 1 eastbound closed
Police have closed Highway 1 eastbound through Langley while they investigate a crash that left a motorcyclist dead early Thursday morning.
-
NDP flips, BC United flops, B.C. Conservatives surge as election campaign approaches
If the lead up to British Columbia's provincial election campaign is any indication of what’s to come, voters should expect the unexpected.
Vancouver Island
-
Video shows historic bridge in Kamloops, B.C., collapsing after fire
The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
-
NDP flips, BC United flops, B.C. Conservatives surge as election campaign approaches
If the lead up to British Columbia's provincial election campaign is any indication of what’s to come, voters should expect the unexpected.
-
'Trove of extraordinary fossils' discovered in northern B.C., museum says
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
