ORLANDO, Fla. – Doctors at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer say they’re seeing a sharp rise in kids seriously hurt on e-bikes and e-scooters — and first responders are training for what they call a growing epidemic.
A high-intensity trauma simulation with the trauma department as well as Orange and Osceola County Fire rescue crews put responders through a chaotic scenario: two children injured in separate crashes, with different life-threatening emergencies.
“These didn’t exist five years ago,” said Dr. Don Plumley, a pediatric trauma surgeon. “In the last three years, every year, the number of children injured is doubled and the severity of injuries seems to be getting worse… we’re in an epidemic kind of situation.”…