E-bike for Christmas? Medical experts urge parents to consider safety before crossing it off the shopping list

The holiday season is approaching, and e-bikes are likely on many wish lists. But before parents wrap one up under the tree, a local doctor is urging them to stop and think first.Dr. Shilpa Amin with HCA Florida Memorial Hospital says emergency rooms are seeing a wide range of e-bike-related injuries — from minor scrapes and broken bones to severe head trauma. Incidents involving e-bikes have even turned fatal.With the holidays approaching, the hospital is pushing a safety message for parents considering gifting an e-bike to their child. Amin recommends having an honest conversation before making that purchase.“Can your child operate a motorized vehicle? Because that’s essentially what this is. Are they gonna be paying attention to the traffic, patterns and fast cars? Are they gonna be able to navigate uneven pavement?” she said. If a parent does decide to purchase an e-bike, a properly fitted helmet is a must. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a helpful guide u