It's "trauma season" at hospitals, and one particular activity for kids is leading to more visits to the doctor's office or ER.
There are a lot of ways for kids to get hurt during the summer, whether it's getting burned by a marshmallow, or fireworks, perhaps a severe sunburn.
However, Gillette Children's pediatrician Micah Niermann says they are seeing an increase in the number of kids getting hurt from crashing their scooters.
"Kids hop on them and they don't wear their helmets, and then they get into really bad accidents," he says.
And the injuries can be serious with broken legs and arms, and most importantly, head injuries.
"Those are definitely injuries we see more in the emergency rooms and even if they're more severe, there are kids who need to come into the hospital for further management and care," says Niermann.
He says by far, the most important message to parents?
"By far the most important message to parents is make your kids wear those helmets," Niermann adds. "I think that is by far the most critical. I mean, if you can, obviously pads, elbow pads, knee pads. But a helmet is absolutely essential."
Niermann says increased visits to the hospital is not unusual in the summer. He says don't overlook those falls especially with traumatic head injuries of most concern.
"Summer months is trauma season, so kids are out, they're very active, and we absolutely see spikes, whether it's fractures or head injuries," he explains. "So, those are definitely injuries we see more in the emergency rooms, and even if they're more severe, there are kids who need to come into the hospital for further management and care."
