Weekly Health Updates from OSF HealthCare

Samantha Rux from OSF HealthCare joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the dangers of e-bikes and electric scooters and provide safety tips for use. OSF St. Luke Medical Center is urging families to treat e-bikes and electric scooters as motor vehicles, not toys. Samantha Rux says emergency and trauma teams are seeing more child injuries linked to speed, lack of control, and limited understanding of traffic rules. Medical experts recommend helmets every ride, and some devices may call for face shields. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises riders be 16 or older for many of these devices.

Doctors at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria are warning families about a surge in severe e-bike and e-scooter injuries among children, especially ages 10 to 15. Pediatric trauma leaders say high-speed models can behave more like motorcycles than bicycles, raising the risk of broken bones, brain injuries, and spinal trauma. They point to the added battery weight as another danger, with crashes causing serious leg fractures and trapping riders. Physicians urge helmets, visibility, no headphones, and age-appropriate use. They’re also warning families to charge batteries safely, using manufacturer-approved cords and stopping immediately if overheating, smoke, or odd smells occur.

With school approaching, OSF HealthCare also reminds parents to review walking and biking safety and schedule school or sports physicals early through OSF MyChart or by calling 309-852-7700. Find more information and health tips at https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/.

Charles Aprahamian, MD, FAAP, FACS, surgeon-in-chief at OSF Children’s Hospital, says, “With the rise of battery-powered devices, surgeons have seen an increase in injuries, especially among children ages 10 to 15.”

“The speeds that can be achieved, especially at 28 miles per hour, 25 miles per hour, it becomes more like a motorcycle and not a bicycle. The injuries you see with e-bikes versus bicycles because of the increased speed are much more severe – higher chance of broken limbs, head injury and spine injury. So, it can be quite severe,” he points out.

Paul Jeziorczak, MD, MPH, trauma medical director for OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois, says “E-bike and e-scooter incidents are starting to overtake other leading causes of serious injury in kids and young adults.”

“I think e-bike accidents and scooter accidents are most commonly seen when they’re going fast and lose control and cause injury versus somebody else hitting them,” Dr. Aprahamian observes. “They’re not experienced with either the speed, rules of the road, when to yield, the importance of wearing a helmet – versus what you would go through to have a license.”

Key takeaways for families:

• Treat e-bikes and e-scooters like motor vehicles, not toys. Follow age and speed guidelines.
• Always wear a certified helmet. For higher-speed models, consider a full-face helmet and additional protective gear.
• Increase visibility and attention. Avoid dark clothing at night and skip headphones while riding.
• Understand weight and speed. Heavier, faster devices cause more severe injuries, including Lime bike leg” open fractures.
• Charge safely. Use only manufacturer-approved chargers. Don’t charge while sleeping, and stop immediately if you notice heat, odor, smoke, or a breaker trips.