The increasing prevalence of e-scooters in Canada is causing concerns among pediatricians, emergency physicians, and experts due to a rising number of injuries, particularly affecting younger individuals. Regulations are struggling to keep up with this trend.
Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto and chair of the injury prevention committee for the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), has observed a significant surge in various types of injuries stemming from e-scooter accidents, ranging from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities.
According to Rosenfield, the incidence of e-scooter-related injuries at SickKids escalated from 26 cases in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025, with projections indicating a further increase this year.
A survey of Canadian doctors suggests severe injuries and deaths are rising among kids and teens who ride e-scooters. Doctors warn that e-scooters are ‘anything but toys,’ and that too many young people are riding at high speeds without helmets.
At the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Dr. Laurie Plotnick, who leads the emergency trauma team, noted a tenfold increase in e-scooter injuries since 2023, with children sustaining severe facial and brain injuries in solo incidents.
A recent CPS survey revealed alarming statistics, including 10 fatalities, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations over a year due to crashes involving micromobility devices, with e-scooters accounting for 86% of cases, half of which involved head injuries.
Dr. Rosenfield highlighted that most victims were not wearing helmets, with boys aged 10 to 15 being most susceptible to severe injuries.