Donations drive new e-scooter research to save lives
A new partnership between the RBWH Foundation and RACQ will fund cutting-edge research into e-scooter injuries.
RACQ and the RBWH Foundation are donating a combined $200,000 to support a two-year collaboration between Jamieson Trauma Institute (JTI) and major Hospital Emergency Departments, including Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).
“We are incredibly grateful to RACQ and other generous RBWH Foundation donors for making this research project possible” said RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske.
"As the number of e-Mobility injuries increases, this valuable and timely research offers significant potential to improve the safety of e-Mobility both in Queensland and around the world.”
JTI is a leading institute in injury surveillance research which has already been advising government-level strategies on electronic personal mobility devices or e-PMD injuries.
RACQ CEO David Carter said the findings would be used to shape policy and regulatory responses and better educate Queenslanders on how to be safe on e-mobility devices.
“This research will give us a thorough understanding on how many people are ending up in hospital emergency departments with e-mobility related injuries and will allow us to better understand injury patterns, severity, circumstances, and treatment outcomes,” Mr Carter said.
JTI’s most recent analysis of Emergency Department (ED) presentations found males accounted for 63% of all e-scooter injury presentations, with those aged 25-34 years the most common age group (39% of presentations) followed by 18–24-year-olds at 28%.
“We also found the majority of ED presentations occur on weekends – about 38%, with Friday the most common weekday,” said RBWH Emergency Department Staff Specialist Dr Gary Mitchell.
“Alcohol use and speeds higher than 20km per hour were reported in one-third of presentations and one in six patients weren’t wearing a helmet.”
The new research program will incorporate a prospective patient cohort study, retrospective injury surveillance, and data linkage. Outcomes will also inform public education and awareness campaigns regarding messaging and initiatives to address risk taking behaviours.
The RBWH Foundation is the major philanthropic partner of RBWH and prestigious Herston Health research institutes, including JTI.
Jamieson Trauma Institute was named after the brilliant and passionate RBWH Neurosurgeon, Dr Kenneth Jamieson, who created a legacy in Queensland of leveraging trauma-related research to lobby for injury prevention through legislative change.
There are many potentially life-saving projects like this that are unfunded, so we encourage the community to give to the RBWH Foundation to ensure these crucial research projects go ahead.
Like many of the 500 clinician researchers here today at RBWH, Dr Jamieson would identify a critical issue facing his patients and dedicate himself to solving it.
In the sixties and seventies, it was head injuries caused by serious motor vehicle accidents.
- Ms Garske.
Appalled by a lack of safety precautions, Dr Jamieson was instrumental in lobbying the Queensland Government to impose drink driving legislation and introduce compulsory helmets for motorbikes and seat belts for motor vehicles
That legacy continues today with JTI. Significant research, however, takes time and it takes funding. To donate to life-saving trauma research, visit www.rbwhfoundation.com.au.
Media Enquiries
Dana Lang
RBWH Foundation Communications and Engagement Officer
Lauren Cooney
RACQ Group Principal Communications Advisor
