Kelowna and Vernon are both participating in a three-year provincial pilot program allowing residents and visitors to use electric scooters. Interior Health encourages all residents and visitors to drive responsibly. In a press release, Interior Health says it is committed to working with all partners to ensure injury prevention remains a top priority. Figures from 2021 suggest an increase in the number of scooter-related injuries compared to the previous five years. IH says the most affected age groups were young people aged between 20 and 40, and the most common types of injuries were fractured upper limbs and open wounds to the head and neck. More than 90 percent of those injured were not wearing a helmet at the time of the injury. “Road safety is everyone’s business,” said Dr. Silvina Mema, medical health officer, Internal Health. “It’s important that everyone plays their part in preventing transportation-related injuries and related impacts we face in our communities. There are also significant health care costs and personal implications for people who sustain serious injuries.”
