The scooter is a small vehicle with wheels, usually two in the case of a child scooter. The two wheels of a child’s scooter are propelled by pressing one foot firmly on the ground. There are, however, two types of scooters: the kick scooter, which is used for rolling down sidewalks, and the motor scooter, which is effectively a small, gas-powered motorbike. Scooter was first used as a verbal abbreviation for motor scooter. This toy can move quickly since it is often lightweight and has a motor. Thus, parents should keep an eye on their kids when they mount this vehicle and make sure that safety gear is always worn.
Parents should be aware of the risks involved with using scooters, commonly referred to as foot or kick scooters, and take precautions to safeguard their children from harm. Teaching kids the laws of road safety is equally crucial. The majority of injuries involve youngsters under the age of 14, who are injured in two out of every three falls and accidents with vehicles and pedestrians. The danger of harm is greatest for young children and those beginning to ride the scooter.
Scooters provide kids a fun way to move about and be active. However, using scooters near vehicles and other traffic is risky. If you fall off the scooter while it is travelling quickly, injuries may result. But in order to keep your child safe, all parents must be aware of the hazards and grasp the crucial safety precautions that must be taken.
NOTE: It’s important to follow the guidelines of the scooter manufacture and any safety equipment manufacturers and follow local laws.
Safety advice for scooter use
Scooters should follow the same safety precautions as bicycles.
Let your kid try different models. When purchasing, let your kid try out a few different models. Hold onto the receipt in case. Check the age guidelines on the manufacturer’s label by reading the package. Search for accolades, certificates, and other recommendations from safety advisors and reputable authorities.
Scooter style. The 10cm-wheel is common among scooters. However, this makes the brake unable to grasp enough of the wheel’s surface area, making it hard to effectively put on the brake. Thus the brake system isn’t always trustworthy. Due to this and scooters’ low clearance, losing control is very likely, especially while navigating tough terrain like cobblestones or significant pavement fissures.
Cheaper scooters could be made with risky design defects like fragile folding mechanisms that could collapse under stress or sharp edges that increase the chance of harm. A design that fits your child’s weight, motor abilities, and physical development is preferable than one that is of shoddy construction.
Use a scooter that is the right size. The first requirement for safety is a scooter that is the right size. More falls and injuries occur when children use scooters that are too small for them. The majority of youngsters’ versions have changeable handlebar heights because of this. So make sure your youngster is using a scooter that is suitable for their height and age.
2 to 3 year old toddlers tend to ride best on three-wheeled, lightweight, stable versions with handlebars that are about waist height. At the age of five, the child can already be probably prepared for a two-wheel scooter. Despite the fact that they are naturally less stable, confident children may ride them faster and manage them more skillfully. If your child frequently walks on uneven ground, consider wheel size of 120mm or greater. At the age of eight, some children are prepared to switch from kick scooters to electric or pro scooters.
What scooter your kids feel most comfortable riding will also depend on their experience and abilities. Just be careful not to push them to advance before they are prepared.
Wear licensed helmets. The most crucial thing we advise is a certified helmet, not a helmet with cute cartoon characters or additional ribbons. Children might crash down hard when they get off their scooters. The best defense against head or brain injuries is a certified helmet. When your child rides any type of wheeled vehicle, it is usually advised that they wear a helmet. A helmet is a crucial component of safeguarding your kid from severe head injuries. Keep an eye on the state of your safety helmet. Repeatedly inspect it for strap, surface, and inner wear.
Make a list of areas to avoid. Areas such as slopes, steps, curbs, gutters, and other dangers are things you should take note of. Take your kids to exhibits to perhaps aid his retention of information where to safely navigate their scooters.
As often as you change the rubber on your car, take care of your child’s scooter tires too.
If you are aware that your child often imitates feats from films or acts up in front of their siblings, keep an eye on them.
Non-earbud. Turn riding a scooter into a “non-earbud” sport. How will he be able to detect impending danger if he is listening to music?
Road safety tips:
To get the kids start on their road rides, take note of the following:
- The use of an authorized bicycle helmet is mandated for scooter users.
- When your youngster is using their scooter, keep an eye on them.
- Never let a small child ride a scooter close to a road.
- Once an older youngster has mastered riding, do not let them ride their scooter close to the road.
- Make sure your youngster is aware of and obedient to traffic laws.
- Dressing your youngster in brightly colored clothing will ensure that they are visible to cars.
- Inform your youngster of the hazards.
Gearing up properly
Riders require knee, wrist, and elbow protectors in addition to a safety helmet. In addition to having brakes, a bell or horn, and sufficient lighting (which can be flashing or steady), scooters are required to have a white light up front, a red light up back, and a red reflector on the rear while being used at night. Here are your kids’ safety ensemble when riding scooters:
- Licensed helmets. The most crucial thing we advise is a certified helmet, not a helmet with cute cartoon characters or additional ribbons. Children might crash down hard when they get off their scooters. The best defense against head or brain injuries is a certified helmet.
- Pants and long sleeves. Simple but powerful. Many nicks and cuts are prevented by wearing long sleeves and trousers.
- Elbow pads and knee pads. These safety items, which are sometimes overlooked by parents or children anxious to dash out the door, have prevented several broken bones. Make them a must for your child.
- Riding mitts. These shield children from grazed palms and knuckles. There are several options, but anything with knuckle pads and padding on the palms that isn’t excessively thick is generally good.
- Hip pads. These are needed if your youngster is starting to ride stunts at the neighborhood skatepark. You wear them underneath long pants, and they offer cushioning for the legs, hips, pelvis, and more.
Finding the safest helmet
Verify if the helmet complies with safety requirements. When purchasing a helmet, bring your child along to ensure that it is fitted properly. Make sure the helmet fits snugly by doing the “push test.” Once the clips are fastened, the helmet should not be pushed backwards, forwards, or sides.
Otherwise, it is too large. Check to see whether the helmet has any damage. For instance, make sure the foam liner is not damaged and that there are no fractures. Avoid purchasing a used helmet since you can’t tell if the previous owner had an accident and destroyed it.
Scooter injuries
Despite the fact that scooters have been available since the 1950s, the trendy new models are frequently built of aluminum and weigh less than 10 pounds. They are the reason for an increasing number of emergency room visits and have swiftly gained popularity. Accidents and injuries using scooters have dramatically increased, according to health experts. Boys under the age of fifteen suffer the majority of the injuries. Cuts, bruising, strains, and sprains are the most frequent injuries, followed by fractures or dislocations of the arm or hand. Nearly half of all injuries often involve the arm or hand, a quarter involve the head, and a final quarter include the leg or foot. There have also been fatalities directly due to scooter accidents.
Scooters should be used with the same safety measures as bicycles and in-line skates, according to the CDC. It is believed that wearing protective gear might help avoid or lessen the severity of numerous injuries. Knee pads can stop 32% of knee injuries, elbow pads can stop 82 percent of elbow injuries, and helmets can stop 85% of head injuries. Although wrist guards are successful in reducing accidents among in-line skaters, it is uncertain how well they protect scooter riders from injuries as wrist guards may make it difficult to hold and control the scooter.