Papamoa School pupils are receiving an education in scooter safety in a bid to reduce the number of scooter-related injuries.

This week Papamoa Police Constable Sarah McKenzie is teaching the school's 150 Year 3 and 4 pupils the importance of wearing helmets and footwear while using push scooters, and how to navigate road crossings and traffic safety.

Papamoa School pupils take a practical drive on scooter safety. Video: Tracy Hardy.

The initiative was started by teacher Hamish Avery, who became alarmed at the number of pupils being injured while riding scooters, and their blasé attitude towards the accidents.

'These things are lethal and kids are getting maimed weekly out here at Papamoa School alone. We had three broken arms in the space of five days last term.”

What worries Hamish most is children not wearing helmets or safe footwear. Their excitement over their injuries is also a cause for concern, he says.

'It became a trend, kids wanted to have a broken arm, and it was cool to have a scooter injury.”

While pupils are forbidden to ride scooters during school hours, many ride the new craze to and from school.

'I'll go out in the morning, and of the kids on scooters, probably two out of 10 will have helmets on.

'There is no risk assessment skills there, the kids are too young to stay within a safe environment. 'Kids are jumping off concrete structures with no forethought, helmet, pads, gloves, or anything. They are travelling as fast as a bike, but with none of the safety measures they use on a bike.”

The local injuries are part of an increasing national issue, with scooter-related injuries doubling annually, according to ACC.

In New Zealand, ACC data shows injuries have doubled every year since 2008—from 697 claims that year to 6474 in 2012.

Hamish believes the lack of helmets comes down to a stigma about protective gear, and the fact there is no law enforcing the use.

'It's a lot of just nipping it in the bud. These kids they're a generation of risk takers, but they're not risk assessors. They can look at a big jump and they don't think what could go wrong.

'I'm not saying wrap kids up in cotton wool. I'm just saying keep them safe while they're doing it.”

Hamish approached Sarah with his concerns, and the pair forged a plan to better educate the school's most common scooter-users.

On Monday, each Year 3 and 4 class received a 45 minute lesson from Sarah in class. This is being followed up by a practical session on the school courts on Tuesday.

Children were allowed to bring a scooter, skateboard or rollerblades – but every child chose a scooter.

'It's a really big fashion at the moment,” says Hamish.

Pupils took turns using their scooters and navigating chalk-drawn roads and intersections, while the other pupils act as cars.

Children had to stop at crossings, wait for safe gaps and learn to cross the road in a safe manner.

Sarah says the lessons are proving successful.

'It's just mostly about getting them to slow down and think about things. They go so fast all the time.”

She hopes if the pupils take just one thing away from the lessons it will be that they wear a helmet.

While Papamoa School has no scooter policy in place currently, Hamish is keen to get some official rules in place.

'We talked about putting in a policy, so children must wear a helmet and shoes when riding their scooters to and from school.

'Whether you put in a policy or an advisory, either one.”