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.
Morningside had scooter days on Mondays, when up to 55 students brought scooters along to use during breaks.
"We let our kids climb trees, we let the kids play tackle rugby, we let them play bull rush," Mr Prchal said.
"From time to time someone does get hurt or the kids get a bit overly rambunctious and we just have a quiet word."
Nationwide, ACC scooter injury claims increased from 4306 at $1,375,395 in 2011 to 7733 at $2,178,884 last year.
Statistics released by Safekids New Zealand last year showed 158 children were hospitalised with scooter-related injuries between 2007-2011.
Safekids director Ann Weaver said although scooters provided children with valuable exercise, it was important to use safety equipment such as helmets, which are not currently mandatory for scooter users.
"It only takes one fall and landing the wrong way could really have a long-term impact on their life, and all for the sake of wearing a helmet. [Although] it isn't law we should still be encouraging children because we know it's a good intervention to reduce serious head injury."
Though scooter safety was ultimately the responsibility of parents, schools needed to support children to travel to school safely, she said.