ORLANDO, Fla. — Emergency department visits involving children injured on e-bikes and e-scooters are rising sharply in Central Florida, according to new data from Orlando Health Children’s Arnold Palmer Hospital.
The hospital recorded 124 visits from January through July 2026. That is more than double the 57 visits recorded during all of 2024 and already represents 92% of the 135 visits reported in 2025.
Children between ages 11 and 13 accounted for the largest share of this year’s cases, with 52 visits. The hospital also treated 30 elementary-aged children and 42 high-school-aged children.
The injuries extended well beyond minor cuts and bruises. Data collected since January 2024 showed:
- 35% of patients sustained fractures to their arms or legs.
- 20% suffered head or facial fractures.
- 15% sustained injuries inside the skull.
- 10% suffered injuries involving multiple areas of the body.
“E-bikes and e-scooters can be fun and convenient, but they are motorized vehicles capable of reaching significant speeds, and children can sustain very serious injuries when something goes wrong,” pediatric surgeon Dr. Marc Levy said.
Hospital data showed that only about 15% of the injured children were wearing helmets.
E-scooters accounted for 63 of the visits recorded through July, while e-bikes accounted for 61.
Orlando Health is urging families to understand the risks and make safety precautions, including helmet use, part of every ride.
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