Electric scooters are treated as 'toys' despite reaching speeds of up to 30mph

Don't treat electric scooters as 'toys', doctors warn as number of injuries caused by the gadgets that can reach 30mph has TRIPLED in a decade Caused around 32,000 people to be hospitalised in the US over nine years  People suffered bleeding, bruising, fractures and even concussions Number of injuries tripled over the nine years and are expected to rise  

By Alexandra Thompson Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline

Published: 15:37 BST, 12 June 2019 | Updated: 15:37 BST, 12 June 2019

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Electric scooters are being treated as 'toys' despite them reaching speeds of up to 30mph (48km/h), scientists have warned.

Around 32,000 people are thought to have been hospitalised in the US over the last nine years because they hurt themselves using the gadgets.

The number of injuries is thought to have almost tripled from an estimated 2,325 in 2008 to 6,947 in 2017, as they increased in popularity. 

And the scientists fear desire for environmentally friendly ways of getting about will cause these 'morbid' injuries to rise. 

Scientists have warned electric scooters reach speeds up to 30mph (48km/h) (stock image)

Scientists have warned electric scooters reach speeds up to 30mph (48km/h) (stock image)

The most common injuries include bleeding, bruising and concussions - but facial fractures and concussions were recorded.  

The research was carried out by Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and led by Dr Amishav Bresler, of the department of otolaryngology. 

Electric scooters have risen in popularity over the past decade, the researchers wrote in the American Journal of Otolaryngology.

They suggested this was because people are seeking more environmentally friendly ways to travel.

However, a lack of regulation has led to concerns over the safety of the motorised mode of transport.

To uncover the risks, the researchers analysed a database of injuries to the face and skull that occurred due to scooters at 100 hospitals.

Results revealed 990 craniofacial injuries were recorded between 2008 and 2017 across 100 hospitals. 

Most of the patients were male (62.1 per cent) and aged six-to-12 (33.3 per cent). 

From this data, the researchers extrapolated there would have been around 32,000 electric scooter-related hospitalisations across the US over those nine years. 

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