SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and internal bleeding - just some of the injuries doctors are seeing in patients hurt while riding motorized scooters.
It's a new trend alarming trauma doctors across San Diego County and the nation.
“What I think bothers a lot of us as trauma surgeons is that we’re seeing injuries that are completely against decades of injury prevention - alcohol intoxication, no helmets, people that don’t know how to ride these vehicles in the first place," said Dr. Vishal Bansal, Chief of Trauma Surgery at Scripps Mercy Hospital.
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Dr. Bansal says some patients are ending up in the intensive care unit with life-changing injuries.
"It’s a question of time until we do see a death from one of these injuries," said Dr. Bonsal.
In partnership with the county, Dr. Bonsal says the county's six area trauma centers are now tracking injuries of scooter riders. With data, he hopes they can help prevent injuries in the future.
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"If we can show that in fact, this is not just a one-off injury, but a significant trend that's getting worse, I think that would heighten the eyebrows of most of our county officials," said Dr. Bonsal.
Bonsal believes they'll have data to present to the public in about six months.
