Brain injury link to Segway scootersRSS Feed

The risk of sustaining a brain injury when riding Segway scooters has been highlighted by a new study showing an increase in head traumas caused by the machines.

Coming just days after Segway boss Jimi Heselden, was killed in an accident whilst riding one of his own scooters, the report was compiled by George Washington Hospital in Washington DC.

It revealed that only seven per cent of people coming to the hospital's emergency department with Segway-related injuries wore a helmet.

Forty per cent of the admitted patients went to the intensive care unit because they had a traumatic brain injury, explained Dr Mary Pat McKay from the hospital.

"All of the injuries were sustained by riders simply falling off, mostly from striking an inanimate object," she explained.

Dr McKay urged Segway riders to wear helmets, although in the UK their use is all but prohibited.

"The Segway may seem cool, but there's nothing cool about a head injury," she added.

A recent cycling accident involving James Cracknell that resulted in a brain injury for the Olympic rower highlighted the importance of wearing head protection.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in brain injury

Posted by Timothy Walters

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