Nicholas Kuehnel, MD, vice chair of clinical operations in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine and a pediatric emergency physician with UW Health Kids, is helping raise awareness about a sharp increase in serious e-bike and e-scooter injuries among children and teens.
Speaking on behalf of UW Health Kids and American Family Children’s Hospital, Kuehnel has urged parents to better understand the risks of electric bike and scooter use and how to help young riders stay safe.
From April through July 2026, American Family Children’s Hospital recorded 100 emergency department visits involving children injured on e-scooters or other electric devices, compared with 15 during the same period in 2025. Injuries have included road rash, broken bones, head injuries and internal trauma to the chest, abdomen or organs.
The trend is prompting growing concern among physicians, law enforcement and safety experts. Kuehnel has described the issue as a complex one, driven in part by confusion about the capabilities and differences among e-scooters, e-bikes and e-motos, including how fast they can travel.
Families may also be unsure which helmets provide appropriate protection or what rules apply to different devices. Regulations can vary by community, including where certain devices are legally allowed on sidewalks or public streets.
Kuehnel’s message has reached audiences across Wisconsin and nationwide. He spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Today” about the trend before appearing on NBC Nightly News on Aug. 23 for a report on rising e-bike injuries among children and teens. Related coverage has also appeared on television stations throughout Wisconsin and been syndicated to more than 100 stations nationwide.
“There is a real concern in the medical community that this is going to get much worse if safety messages aren’t reaching families,” Kuehnel said.
The attention highlights the role of the UW’s emergency medicine team in providing specialized emergency care for children while helping families and communities prevent serious injuries before they happen.
This story is adapted from a June 2026 news release by UW Health.