Keeping Your Child Safe On Their Scooter

Children's scooters are a lot of fun for children but just like rollerblades, it is important to keep safety in mind.

The majority of injuries on kid's scooters are from falling from the scooter. Younger riders may have underdeveloped coordination which can lead to a loss of balance. Younger kids also have a higher center of gravity due to the larger proportion of their head. Both of these issues can contribute to the child falling from the electric scooter.

Where the child rides can also contribute to injuries. Things like sand and loose rocks could cause a child of any age to have an accident if they aren't careful.

Fortunately, serious injury from a scooter accident is very rare. The most frequent injuries are bruises, scrapes, and the occasional broken bone. These aren't fun and no parent would wish them on any child. The good news is that with the proper safety precautions, you can greatly reduce the chances of your child being injured on their kid's scooter.

Helmets

The most frequently used safety device for kid's scooters is the helmet. Helmets are an inexpensive way to protect your child's well-being and minimize the risk of the most serious injuries. Either a regular bicycle helmet or a multisport helmet can be worn for the best safety.

The most important thing when buying a helmet is making sure it fits the child correctly. To assure the right fit, use the "Eyes, Ears, Mouth" formula:

Eyes: The rim of the helmet should be one or two finger widths above the child's eyebrows.

Ears: The straps of the helmet should form a "V" beneath the child's ear lobe.

Mouth: The buckle on the strap should be flush against the underneath of their chin. When your child opens their mouth they should feel the strap snug on their chin and the helmet should be hugging their head.

Padding

Pads are another good choice for easy protection. The most commonly used pads are for the knees and elbows. Wrist protection is also available which will protect the child's wrist if they fall from the scooter and try to catch themselves with their hands. Using these sorts of pads can greatly minimize or prevent injuries from falls from scooters.

Basic Coverage

An commonly overlooked aspect to protection is good coverage from regular clothing. Long sleeves and pants can help prevent scrapes and cuts while closed toe shoes will protect your child's feet from getting hurt.

Learning to Fall

An aspect of safety that the majority of people don't think about is knowing how to fall correctly. Make sure your child is aware that if they're losing their balance to crouch down to lower their center of gravity. Of course, falling into something soft is much nicer than falling on pavement. And if your child isn't wearing wrist guards, be sure they know not to try to catch themselves palm out as this can injure their wrists.

The last thing to remember about children's scooter safety is just regular common sense. It may be impossible to totally avoid injuries as kids grow up, but keeping these tips in mind will greatly reduce the chance of injury as they enjoy their kid's scooters.