Scooters "can be very dangerous"

CITYLAB

Letter to the editor in today's SF Chronicle:

Put on a helmet with scooters

Electric scooters are showing up in cities across the country and becoming a popular mode of transportation. Unfortunately, injuries associated with them are also becoming popular reasons for why patients end up in my emergency room where I treat broken arms, bad bruises, neck and facial injuries and even see serious head injuries caused by scooter accidents.

While scooters are fun and convenient, they can also be very dangerous if you don’t ride them correctly or follow the rules of the road. The most important thing you can do to avoid serious harm is wear a helmet and always be alert when riding.

As an emergency physician, I’ll always be prepared to treat you if necessary. But being a responsible rider can be your greatest defense from getting injured in the first place.

Alai Alvarez

San Francisco

See also Scooter danger: Here we go again!