More Northland children are suffering scooter injuries as they become increasingly popular, new figures show.
Northland scooter injuries have more than doubled from 61 at a cost of $16,913 in 2011 to 145 at $49,891 last year, according to ACC injury claim figures. Injuries increased the most among 5- to 14-year-olds, from 37 to 111 during that period.
Fractures to the arms, and head and facial injuries - particularly dental injuries - were most common, with some occurring when hand grips came off handlebars and when scooters folded unexpectedly, ACC said.
Morningside School principal David Prchal said about 5 per cent of his students brought scooters to school.
He encouraged children to wear safety gear when riding their scooters to and from school, but said it was not compulsory when using a scooter on school grounds.