As sunnier days approach us along with picturesque landscapes in the Pacific Northwest, hopping on a Lime Scooter or using micro-mobility may be a fun way to get outside and soak in the extra rays. As spring is in full swing and summer offers the anticipation of warmer temperatures, it can be enticing to zip across our lively evergreen city on a whim and often without proper safety equipment. While Lime scooters frequently adorn city sidewalks, it has never been more convenient to find a more efficient and green way to get around. This Earth month, we encourage you to ditch driving and try out micro-mobility with a few key safety tips from Dr. Adeyinka Adedipe, Associate Professor at the UW Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine and Director of Emergency Ultrasound.

At Harborview Medical Center, scooter incidents continue to see an uptick in severe injuries particularly from Thursdays through the weekend resulting from not wearing a helmet, operating while impaired, or transitioning from surfaces like a bumpy street to sidewalk. From middle-school aged to mid-30s, patients most admitted are young men at approximately 60% more cases than women. “Scooters are a wonderful idea for that last connection, but I think there’s a lot of safety tips that people could utilize. Obviously wearing a helmet— that’s the whole game, right?” According to Dr. Adedipe, the most serious injuries that are seen are head injuries ranging the spectrum from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries where debilitating cognitive problems that are lasting arise resulting in some outcomes where patients never regain their full abilities.

In addition to head injuries, one of the other most common is facial fractures, including lacerations where people destroy their teeth. While you might anticipate that such serious incidents might occur from a collision with a vehicle, often, something as minor as a wheel catch on something leading to catastrophic consequences and hefty medical bills. Riders are propelled forward, leading to upper extremity fractures like radius fractures, broken fingers, and broken elbows. While there are not any major known studies on implementing policy changes to promote safer riding, Dr. Adedipe shared — “The thing that I would reflect upon is that I certainly enjoy going out, enjoying our city, and certainly having time with my family. The last thing I ever want to do is have something happen in a split second from a bad decision I made and have to go to an ER unexpectedly and sit there for hours.”

While many do not plan to end up in the ER, it serves as an environment for healthcare to be seen from a different perspective. “As I’ve gotten a bit older, I’m reflecting that the ER is a place that everybody comes to in the United States, or has some experience with on some level. Either I’ve been there as a patient; maybe you were visiting a loved one or maybe you have a story about a friend of yours who went to the ER,” he shared. It is a place that allows all to receive care regardless of socioeconomic status and is a site for rapid change. It is also a place where, according to Dr. Adedipe, he has seen policy changes take effect almost immediately resulting in increased access to care for all.

With a long career in Emergency Medicine, Dr. Adedipe also reminded folks that along with safe riding, Firework safety is crucial particularly as America’s 250^th anniversary is on the horizon this July. He has seen folks’ lives change dramatically from engaging in mindless summer fun like lighting a firework improperly leading to lost fingers, entire hands, an eye or vision, amongst other grave consequences. In the spirit of being proactive about our health, a few of his summer tips are also below.

Key Micro-Mobility Safety Tips

1. Wear a helmet – Avoid risking your safety out of convenience and prevent severe head injuries including facial fractures and brain trauma
2. Be safe when transitioning surfaces – Assume your wheel is going to catch on something and keep your eyes peeled — Stay off your phone and eyes on the road
3. Don’t ride impaired – Your inhibitions are minimized under the influence of alcohol — Ride sober and with both hands

Summer Safety Bonus – Fireworks

1. Use safety goggles – Fireworks could explode and leave you with significant injuries to your eyes resulting in lost vision or severe burns
2. Use smoldering sticks commonly known as punks – Light fireworks from a distance and avoid losing fingers or a hand
3. Opt to watch a show instead of hosting – The lowest risk option is to take an outing with family or friends to a local show and enjoy the sparks lighting up the night sky