ARCHIVED - Injuries associated with... UNPOWERED SCOOTERS, CHIRPP database as of May 2001

 

CHIRPP

All ages, June 2001 (305 records)


LIMITATIONS

This report is based on information from the database of the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP). It is important to note that the injuries described do not represent all injuries in Canada, but only those seen at the emergency departments of the 15 hospitals in the CHIRPP network. Since the bulk of CHIRPP data comes from the pediatric hospitals, which are in major cities, injuries suffered by the following people are under-represented in the CHIRPP database: older teenagers and adults, who are seen at general hospitals; native people; and people who live in rural areas. Fatal injuries are also under-represented in the CHIRPP database because the emergency department data do not capture people who died before they could be taken to hospital or those who died after being admitted.

SUMMARY (305 records)

Injuries associated with scooters were most common among 8 to 13 year old children (76.4%). Nearly two-thirds (65.9%) of the injured were male. Close to half (47.2%) of all injuries took place between 4:00 pm and 7:59 pm. Injuries occurred most frequently in non-roadway locations (67.2%), with more than one third (34.4%) occurring near a home. Loss of control of the scooter accounted for more than half of all injuries (59.0%). Using the first of up to three injuries recorded for each case, nearly one-third were fractures to the upper extremities (30.2%), with fractures of the forearm accounting for 15.4% of all injuries. In the emergency room, almost half of those injured (47.2%) were treated with medical follow-up required, and 4.6% were admitted to hospital.

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE SEARCH

In May 2001, a search of the CHIRPP database for all ages (1,108,891 records) was conducted. Records were selected if any of the six factor code fields contained the code for scooter (lightweight fold-up scooter, micro scooter, razor scooter or trottinette; code 2014). This new code (2014) was added to the CHIRPP factor code list on September 7, 2000. Records were scanned and any cases in which the scooter was incidental in the injury event (e.g. tripped over it in the garage) or where the scooter was powered, were excluded. Injuries occurring during fold-up or opening of the scooter were included. This search resulted in 305 records.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION OF CASES

AGE (years)
# (%) OF CASES
CASES / 100,000 *
% MALE
% MALE CHIRPP **
1 - 4
9 (3.0)
2.8
77.8
56.7
5 - 7
32 (10.5)
23.0
75.0
59.3
8 - 10
109 (35.7)
71.2
58.7
57.4
11 - 13
124 (40.7)
72.9
65.3
61.0
14 - 16
29 (9.5)
22.5
82.8
63.5
17+
2 (0.7)
1.0
50.0
61.8
Total
305 (100.0)
28.4
65.9
59.8

* The number of injuries per 100,000 CHIRPP injuries of all types within the age group indicated. The total number of injuries per 100,000 reflects injuries of all types for ages one year and older. Because CHIRRP collects information from ten children's hospitals and only five of the general hospitals, there is a high number of young children in the database. Using number per 100,000 within an age group (instead of overall percent by age group) adjusts for different age group distributions.

** Proportion of males in the CHIRPP database for that age group.


OVERALL PATTERN OF OCCURRENCE

Day, month and time

Over one-third of the events occurred on the weekend (38.7%). The remaining cases were distributed evenly between Monday and Friday. Due to the addition of the new code for scooters and the lag time in data entry, it is difficult to assess month-by-month frequencies at this point.

TIME OF INJURY

TIME
# (%) OF CASES
# (%) OF MALES
# (%) OF FEMALES
Midnight to < 8:00 am
10 (3.3)
9 (4.5)
1 (1.0)
8:00 am to < Noon
22 (7.2)
18 (9.0)
4 (3.8)
Noon to < 4:00 pm
69 (22.6)
48 (23.9)
21 (20.2)
4:00 pm to < 8:00 pm
144 (47.2)
88 (43.8)
56 (53.8)
8:00 pm to < Midnight
35 (11.5)
22 (10.9)
13 (12.5)
Unknown
25 (8.2)
16 (8.0)
9 (8.7)
Total
305 (100.0)
201 (100.0)
104 (100.0)

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INJURY

Location, breakdown and direct cause (mechanism factor)

Injuries associated with scooters took place most frequently at non-roadway locations (67.2%), with over one-third of all injuries occurring in the vicinity of a home (34.4%) . The majority of all patients were injured due to a loss of control of their scooter (59.0%). The most frequent direct cause of injury was a surface (79.0%)


WHERE THE INJURY OCCURRED

LOCATION
# (%) OF CASES
Non-roadway
205 (67.2)
In or in the vicinity of the patient's home or other home
105 (34.4)
   in garden/yard
35
   on driveway
16
   on sidewalk
12
   other indoor area at a home
12
   other outdoor area at a home
8
   unspecified area of a home
22
Away from home
100 (32.8)
   sidewalk
52
   public Park
20
   school
14
   other location
14
Roadway (public road or lane)
83 (27.2)
Unknown Location
17 (5.6)
Total
305 (100.0)

HOW THE INJURY HAPPENED*

BREAKDOWN/CIRCUMSTANCES
# (%) OF ALL CASES
# (%) OF MALE CASES
# (%) OF FEMALE CASES
Loss of control of scooter
180 (59.0)
117 (58.2)
63 (60.6)
Loss of balance
7 (2.3)
3 (1.5)
4 (3.8)
Dismounting/mounting scooter
6 (2.0)
2 (1.0)
4 (3.8)
Turning/avoiding
4 (1.3)
3 (1.5)
1 (1.0)
Slipped off
2 (0.6)
2 (1.0)
0 (0.0)
Braking
2 (0.6)
0 (0.0)
2 (1.9)
Loss of control - not further specified
159 (52.1)
107 (53.2)
52 (50.0)
Problems with the riding surface
54 (17.7)
31 (15.4)
23 (22.1)
Contact with curb or paved surface irregularity
25 (8.2)
12 (6.0)
13 (12.5)
Contact with small object on surface
17 (5.6)
11 (5.5)
6 (5.8)
Non-paved surface
6 (2.0)
2 (1.0)
4 (3.8)
Contact with sewer grate/manhole/storm drain
4 (1.3)
4 (2.0)
0 (0.0)
Wet paved surface
2 (0.6)
2 (1.0)
0 (0.0)
Higher risk manoeuvres
41 (13.4)
34 (16.9)
7 (6.7)
Downhill/excessive speed
30 (9.8)
25 (12.4)
5 (4.8)
Stunts/jumps
11 (3.6)
9 (4.5)
2 (1.9)
Clothing or body part caught in scooter while in operation
7 (2.3)
3 (1.5)
4 (3.8)
Body part
3 (1.0)
3 (1.5)
0 (0.0)
Clothing
4 (1.3)
0 (0.0)
4 (3.8)
Collision with fixed object (includes parked motor vehicles)
5 (1.6)
5 (2.5)
0 (0.0)
Collision with cyclist, other scooter user, or pedestrian
5 (1.6)
3 (1.5)
2 (1.9)
Collision with a moving vehicle
4 (1.3)
2 (1.0)
2 (1.9)
Body part caught while folding/opening scooter
3 (1.0)
1 (0.5)
2 (1.9)
Malfunction of scooter
3 (1.0)
3 (1.5)
0 (0.0)
Other/unknown circumstances
3 (1.0)
2 (1.0)
1 (1.0)
Total
305 (100.0)
201 (100.0)
104 (100.0)

*Each patient was assigned to a single category and percentages were based on the 305 persons injured. Category assignment was based on the level of detail available in the description of the injury.


DIRECT CAUSE OF THE INJURY (MECHANISM FACTOR)*

DIRECT CAUSE OF INJURY
# (%) OF CASES
# (%) OF MALE CASES
# (%) OF FEMALE CASES
Surface
241 (79.0)
154 (76.6)
87 (83.7)
Concrete/other man-made
169
100
69
Ground/other natural
21
14
7
Gutter/curb
7
6
1
Small rocks/stones/gravel
4
3
1
Ditches/ruts/holes
2
2
0
Ice/snow/frost
1
1
0
Sticks/branches, not attached
1
1
0
Unknown natural surface
36
27
9
The scooter
34 (11.2)
27 (13.4)
7 (6.7)
A person
12 (3.9)
9 (4.5)
3 (2.9)
Fixed upright object
5 (1.6)
3 (1.5)
2 (1.9)
Parked motor vehicle
2
2
0
Wall
2
0
2
Traffic control device
1
1
0
Moving vehicle
2 (0.7)
1 (0.5)
1 (1.0)
A bicycle
1 (03)
1 (0.5)
0 (0.0)
Fixed low object
1 (0.3)
1 (0.5)
0 (0.0)
Deck/Porch
1
1
0
Other factor
7 (2.3)
3 (1.5)
4 (3.8)
Unknown factor
2 (0.7)
2 (1.0)
0 (0.0)
Total
305 (100.0)
201 (100.0)
104 (100.0)

* Up to two mechanisms can be entered per record; only the first mechanism contributing to injury is included in the table.


BODY PART & NATURE OF INJURIES*

BODY REGION
Nature of injury
# (%) OF CASES
% CHIRPP**
Upper extremities
Fracture
   forearm
   wrist/hand
   upper arm
Bruise / Abrasion
Sprain / Strain
Other Injury
156 (51.1)
92 (30.2)
47
33
12
29 (9.5)
20 (6.6)
15 (4.9)
33.9
Lower extremities
Bruise / Abrasion
Fracture
   lower leg
   foot/ankle
Sprain/Strain
Cut / Laceration
Other Injury
74 (24.3)
21 (6.9)
19 (6.2)
10
9
13 (4.3)
10 (3.3)
11 (3.6)
21.7
Head, Face, and Neck
Cut/Laceration
Minor Head Injury
Dental Injury
Bruise / Abrasion
Fracture
   facial
   skull
Other Injury
61 (20.0)
24 (7.9)
13 (4.3)
8 (2.6)
6 (2.0)
5 (1.6)
4
1
5 (1.6)
32.4
Trunk (including Spine)
Bruise/Abrasion
Other Injury
8 (2.6)
6 (2.0)
2 (0.7)
6.3
Multiple Injuries to Multiple Body Parts
1 (0.3)
0.2
No Injuries Detected
2 (0.7)
0.7
Unknown
3 (1.0)
0.8
Total
305 (100.0)
96.0

* Up to three injuries and body parts can be entered per record; only the first most severe injury is included in the table.

** Percentage of records in the entire CHIRPP database for the given body region.

Does not add to 100% as systemic injuries are not included


SAFETY DEVICES USED

The status of helmet use was known in 156 cases (51.1%). Of these, 113 cases (72.4%) reported that a helmet was not used.


NUMBER OF INJURIES

# OF INJURIES SUSTAINED
% OF CASES
% OF CASES CHIRPP*
No injury
0.7
2.1
1 injury
86.9
88.9
2 injuries
9.2
7.3
3 or more injuries
2.3
1.7
Unknown
1.0
0.0
Total
100.0
100.0

* Percentage of records in the entire CHIRPP database with the given number of injuries.


TREATMENT PROVIDED IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

TREATMENT
# (%) OF CASES
% CHIRPP*
Left without being seen
3 (1.0)
0.9
Advice only
50 (16.4)
18.8
Treated, follow-up if necessary
89 (29.2)
38.6
Treated, medical follow-up required
144 (47.2)
33.7
Short stay, observation in emergency
5 (1.6)
1.5
Admitted to hospital
14 (4.6)
6.4
Total
305 (100.0)
100.0

* Percentage of records in the entire CHIRPP database for the given treatment provided.


SUGGESTED REFERENCE AND REPORTING INFORMATION

This report and data from it may be copied and circulated freely provided that the source is acknowledged. The following citation is recommended:

Injury Section (Health Canada) analyses of data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP). Injuries Associated with Unpowered Scooters, CHIRPP database as of May 2001, All ages, June 2001 (305 records).

If data from this report are included in any other document or publication, it should be noted, where appropriate, that the information comes from 15 hospitals (10 pediatric and 5 general) across Canada.

For additional information on the CHIRPP program, please contact the Injury Section, Centre for Healthy Human Development by phone at (613) 941-9918, by FAX at (613) 941-9927 or visit our web site.

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