Asklepios Clinics GmbH & Co. KGaA
Hamburg (ots)
- Many serious accidents happen under the influence of alcohol
- E-scooter accidents are becoming more common
- Bicycle helmet reduces the risk of serious head injuries
On May 18th it’s that time again: It’s Father’s Day – a particularly bad day in the emergency rooms, accident and neurosurgery. Because at no other time of the year do so many serious bicycle accidents and so many accidents under the influence of alcohol happen as on Ascension Day. “Riding a bike while under the influence of alcohol significantly increases the risk of falling,” warns Prof. Dr. Michael Hoffmann, Chief Physician at the Clinic for Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics and Sports Orthopedics at the Asklepios Klinik St. Georg in Hamburg. And that also applies to the e-scooters that are available all over the city, adds his colleague from the Asklepios Klinik Altona (Hamburg), Prof. Dr. Lars Gerhard Grossterlinden.
“We are increasingly dealing with serious e-scooter accidents in the clinics,” says Großterlinden. The high number of head injuries is particularly striking. “I therefore strongly recommend wearing a helmet on the e-scooter – and in addition, you should definitely practice driving an e-scooter and not just throw yourself into traffic!” The fact that the e-scooters are available for rent anywhere and anytime in the city is particularly problematic on Father’s Day. Because many a drunk person could be carried away to accelerate the way home in this way – of course inexperienced and without a helmet. The fact that the nimble e-scooters and electrically assisted pedelecs reach speeds without great exertion that an intoxicated person can hardly assess correctly also promotes carelessness.
“We collect e-scooter accidents in our own database for scientific evaluation,” reports Prof. Hoffmann. It now includes more than 200 patients, mainly with head and facial injuries as well as craniocerebral trauma. Although many of these serious injuries heal, many sufferers also retain permanent damage. “In more than 90 percent of these accidents, those involved were not wearing a helmet and it was not uncommon for them to be under the influence of alcohol, especially at the weekend.” Particularly tragic: It is not uncommon for sober road users to be seriously injured on Father’s Day because they are involved in accidents by drunk excursionists.
Wearing a helmet and consequences for drunk driving demanded
The chief physicians Prof. Großterlinden and Prof. Hoffmann draw a clear conclusion: “We recommend helmets, a minimum age of 16 for the e-scooter and severe consequences for driving under the influence of alcohol – whether on the e-scooter or on the bike.”
The trauma surgeries at the Asklepios Kliniken Hamburg
In Hamburg, the Asklepios Klinikum Altona, Barmbek, Nord-Heidberg, St. Georg and Wandsbek as well as the Asklepios Klinikum Harburg and the Asklepios Westklinikum Hamburg in Rissen have trauma surgery facilities. You can find out where which subject and special areas are offered at: www.asklepios.com/konzern/standorte/kliniken/
Contact for queries:
https://www.asklepios.com/konzern/unternehmen/aktuell/pressekontakt/
Asklepios Clinics GmbH & Co. KGaA
Corporate Communications & Marketing division
Rübenkamp 226
22307 Hamburg
Tel.: (0 40) 18 18-82 66 36
E-Mail: [email protected]
The press office is on call 24 hours a day: (040) 1818-82 8888.
Visit Asklepios on the Internet, on Facebook or YouTube:
www.asklepios.com
gesundleben.asklepios.com
www.facebook.com/asklepioskliniken
www.youtube.com/asklepioskliniken
Registration for the Asklepios newsletter:
https://www.asklepios.com/konzern/newsletter-anmeldung/
Nursing Blog: “We are Nursing” (https://wir-sind-pflege.blog/)
Original content from: Asklepios Kliniken GmbH & Co. KGaA, transmitted by news aktuell
