On 30/8, representatives from National Children's Hospital announced that a child, standing on the footboard in front of an adult, accidentally twisted the electric scooter's throttle before the adult could react, causing the vehicle to lurch forward unexpectedly.

Following the accident, the child fell, hitting their head on the concrete pavement. The child became cyanotic, disoriented, and received first aid at a local hospital before being transferred to National Children's Hospital.

Despite urgent resuscitation and emergency care from medical professionals, the child did not survive due to severe brain damage.

Doctors provided urgent emergency care, but due to the severe injuries, the child did not survive. *Photo: Hospital provided*

Doctor Dang Anh Duong, Head of the Surgical Intensive Care Department, stated that allowing children to sit in front of the driver or stand on the footboard of a scooter or electric scooter poses numerous risks. Young children can easily reach the handlebars, throttle, and other vehicle controls, while their ability to recognize danger, maintain balance, and react is limited.

Beyond the risk of accidentally twisting the throttle, children sitting in front are also prone to losing balance during sudden braking, sharp turns, riding over bumpy roads, or in the event of a collision. Inertial force can propel children forward, causing severe chest injuries from impact with the handlebars or ejecting them from the vehicle.

To mitigate accident risks, adults should note: do not allow children to sit in front of the driver or stand on the vehicle's footboard; prevent children from accessing the handlebars, throttle, and other vehicle controls; turn off the ignition and remove the key when the vehicle is stopped; do not allow children to independently touch or interact with the controls; ensure children wear appropriate helmets when participating in traffic; and actively teach children traffic safety principles, tailored to their age and cognitive abilities.

Le Nga