'It can be catastrophic,' warning in Tipperary over e-scooters this Christmas

In Emly, a message was passed quietly but urgently through the community, beginning with a simple request to grandparents and parents: to be mindful when buying presents this Christmas. 

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Across Ireland, brain surgeons are appealing to parents and guardians with a stark warning — children should not be riding e-scooters, either as drivers or as passengers.

Over the past year alone, dozens of young children and teenagers have required brain surgery, fighting to survive life-changing injuries, or death, after falling from e-scooters.

The danger is sudden and unforgiving. A small bump, a hole in the road, or a collision with a car can turn catastrophic the moment a head strikes the ground.

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An e-scooter is not a toy. It is a small machine, balanced on little wheels, capable of travelling fast — up to 30 kilometres per hour.

Parents are being strongly advised not to buy an e-scooter for anyone under 16 this Christmas. It is against the law for a child of that age to ride one.

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If there is already a scooter at home, it should be locked away. If one has been ordered, the order should be cancelled. And if Santy is meant to deliver one, then perhaps a “surprise” should take its place.

Disappointment, the message says, is far better than regret or grief.

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The appeal ends with a simple plea that echoes through Emly: let’s use our brains to save our brains.