With the recent increase in popularity of lightweight scooters, there has been an incredible increase in the number of scooter related injuries in the last year. Last year the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that 4000 scooter related injuries were seen in hospital emergency rooms in August of 2000 alone. Nearly 90% of these injuries occurred in children under the age of 15.

     It is estimated that 60% of these injuries, 30% of which were fractures and dislocations, could have been prevented with protective gears, which cost less that $35.00 had been worn, It is recommended, as with in-line skates, that riders, especially children, wear proper safety gear including a helmet and knee and elbow pads.