Trending
As children head back to school, safety should be a top priority during their daily commute. As e-bikes continue to grow in popularity, more families are considering them a convenient transportation option for students. For those who use e-bikes and similar devices, understanding the potential risks and practicing safe riding habits can help prevent injuries and ensure a safe trip to and from class.
E-bikes can travel at speeds of 20 to 30 mph and healthcare providers are seeing an increase in crashes involving motor vehicles. These collisions often create a high-energy blunt-force impact, resulting in more serious injuries than those typically seen with traditional bicycles. Because of their speed and the quick judgment required to navigate traffic safely, e-bikes are not recommended for children under 16. "E-bike crashes are considered high-energy injuries, correlating with more severe long-bone fractures, head trauma and risk of internal injury," said Christine Betancourt, PA-C, a pediatric orthopedic provider at Shriners Children’s Erie.
As e-bike use continues to increase, there is a corresponding increase in injuries that require specialized pediatric assessment to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. The most common injuries seen at Shriners Children's Erie orthopedic clinic from e-bike crashes are fractures of the upper extremities as most children will fall onto their outstretched hands. “Pediatric orthopedic specialists are uniquely trained to care for these types of injuries in children,” said Betancourt. “They are highly experienced in evaluating pediatric X-rays, which look remarkably different from adult X-rays because children have open growth plates throughout their bodies."
When injuries do occur, pediatric orthopedic specialists can provide a more pediatric-focused assessment and treatment plan in a calm, child-centered environment designed to reduce anxiety and support both children and their caregivers. They can often deliver definitive management for many stable pediatric injuries during the initial visit, saving families from additional, unnecessary appointments.
To help reduce the risk of injury from e-bikes, parents should make sure their teens wear a properly fitted helmet every time they ride, obey traffic laws, stay alert to vehicles and pedestrians and understand how to safely manage the bike’s speed. As roads become busier with students traveling to and from school, taking a few extra precautions can help ensure everyone gets where they’re going safely.
Shriners Children's improves the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, conducting innovative research, and offering outstanding education programs for medical professionals. Children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care, regardless of the families' ability to pay or insurance status, and receive all care and services in a compassionate, family-centered environment. For more information, please visit shrinerschildrens.org.