TTSH: PMD-Rider Related Accidents Increased Since 2017; Largest Number In 2019

Another day, another PMD related article. If you aren’t already best friends with ethe term “PMD”, it stands for Paikia Macam Devil Personal Mobility Device.

Ah yes, the dreaded three words. Almost as blasphemous to say as “Voldemort”.

Besides causing death, accidents, fires and the occasional fireworks, PMDs have also instigated various petitions imploring the government to impose a total ban.

To add on to the ever-growing list, Tan Tock Seng Hospital has just released an assessment or “stocktake” on the number of PMD-Rider related accidents and fatalities.

TTSH: PMD-Rider Related Accidents Increased Since 2017; Largest Number In 2019

Yes, to be clear, this isn’t about pedestrians getting killed by PMDs.

Rather, it focuses on PMD riders themselves and how they have also been getting injured or killed in alarming statistics.

According to TODAYOnline, Tan Tock Seng Hospital announced these figures on 21 October, Monday.

Don’t be alarmed when you read these findings. Okay, I actually don’t think anyone will be but..

68% Increase In PMD-Related Accidents Over The Past Few Years

Tan Tock Seng Hospital found that there’s a 68% increase in PMD-related accidents over the past two years and nine months. This was announced at a briefing held by the hospital.

Between January 2017 and September 2019, the hospital treated 213 patients who were PMD Riders and saw 6 patients who were pedestrians involved in PMD accidents.

Among the 213 PMD Rider incidents, 6 of them passed away. A notable statistic is that more than 75% of the PMD riders were male.

In all, the trend is increasing. In the first quarter of 2019, 79 PMD Riders were admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital compared to 87 cases for the entirety of 2018.

Here are some key statistics from TODAYOnline:

• Among the 213 PMD rider patients seen at TTSH, about 53% (114) were patients aged 20 to 39.
• About 29 per cent of them were between the ages of 40 and 59, while 9% were above 60 years old.
• The most common afflictions were injuries to the head and neck, followed by external abrasions or lacerations. Chest injuries made up 9% of cases while injuries to the extremities such as sprains, fractures or amputations were 8 per cent.

Many Patients Suffered From Head Injuries

A director of the trauma services unit at TTSH, Dr Teo Li Tserng told TODAYOnline, “A lot of patients have head injuries, the unfortunate thing about (such) injuries is that recovery time can vary.

“If you have a severe head injury, you might end up in a vegetative state for the rest of your life.”

For. The. Rest. Of. Your. Life.

Now that’s scarier than ghosts and Halloween combined.

A no-brainer to reduce the risk of getting a head injury and ending up in a vegetative state for. the. rest. of. your. life. is to wear safety gear.

My personal proposed solution? Just impose a total ban on it lah.

I almost got knocked down by a PMD this morning while walking to the office. It wasn’t such a goody morning.