SPRING, Texas (August 6, 2026) — Harris County ESD 11 EMS’s recent back-to-school e-bike safety campaign received widespread television coverage this week, with Houston’s FOX affiliate and Telemundo featuring the agency’s warning about the dramatic increase in e-bike and e-scooter injuries among children and teenagers.

The news stories highlighted the alarming rise in injuries across Harris County and reinforced ESD 11 EMS’s message that parents should understand the risks associated with motorized motorcycles, bikes and scooters before purchasing them for students traveling to and from school.

“The overwhelming media response demonstrates that this is a community safety issue affecting families throughout our region,” said Dr. Jay Kovar, Medical Director for ESD 11 EMS. “Our goal is not to discourage the use of e-bikes, but to ensure parents have the information they need to make safe decisions and help prevent serious injuries.”

Dr. Kovar was joined by Nancy De La Fuente from Harris County Public Health who provided the alarming statistics

The television reports showed a sharp increase in reported e-bike, e-scooter, and e-motorcycle injuries in Harris County, with emergency physicians noting that many of the most severe injuries involve riders who were not wearing helmets.

ESD 11 EMS partnered with Wayne Arrington, owner of Arride Bikes in The Woodlands and Tomball, to educate parents about selecting age-appropriate e-bikes, choosing properly fitted helmets, understanding local traffic laws, and teaching safe riding habits before students begin commuting to school.

“We appreciate our local media partners for helping amplify this important public safety message,” said Dr. Kovar. “By reaching families before the school year begins, we hope to reduce preventable injuries and encourage responsible riding throughout our community.”As students return to classrooms, ESD 11 EMS continues to encourage parents to:

• Choose age-appropriate electric bikes and scooters.
• Require riders to wear properly fitted helmets every trip.
• Teach students the rules of the road before allowing them to ride on public streets.
• Understand the speed and capabilities of any motorized vehicle before purchase.
• Supervise new riders until they demonstrate safe operating skills.

ESD 11 EMS remains committed to educating the community through injury prevention initiatives and partnerships with local schools, retailers, healthcare providers, and media organizations.

About ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare    

ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare covers a 177 square mile area of northern Harris County with over 700,000 residents, the largest Emergency Service District in the state of Texas.  ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare receives over 65,000 calls a year and consistently ranks among the best EMS services in the country for speed of response, patient satisfaction and quality of care. The Harris County Emergency Services District 11 Communication Center, known as Control, is recognized as an ACE Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. This prestigious designation highlights our commitment to excellence in emergency dispatch services. As an ACE-accredited agency, we enjoy increased visibility in community service, enhanced support in litigation and liability management, and improved recruitment and retention, affirming the value and impact of our team’s work.   

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Contact: Miranda Sevcik, Public Information Officer 346-226-8808 

HOUSTON, TX July 2, 2026   As Independence Day celebrations approach, ESD 11 Medical Director Dr. Jay Kovar joined the Spring Fire Department for a series of morning show interviews focused on firework safety and injury prevention, encouraging residents to celebrate responsibly and take precautions to protect themselves and their families.

During the interviews, Dr. Kovar emphasized that while fireworks are a cherished holiday tradition, they can also cause serious injuries when handled improperly. Burns, eye injuries, hand trauma, and hearing damage are among the most common emergency department visits associated with fireworks each year. Many of these injuries are preventable through proper safety practices and increased public awareness.

“Celebrating with family and friends should be memorable for the right reasons,” said Dr. Jay Kovar. “By following basic safety guidelines, keeping a safe distance from fireworks, supervising children, and attending professional fireworks displays whenever possible, we can help reduce preventable injuries and keep our communities safe.”

The discussion also highlighted the importance of adult supervision, maintaining a safe distance from fireworks after they are lit, never attempting to relight malfunctioning fireworks, and having water readily available in case of a fire or emergency. Residents were reminded that sparklers, often perceived as harmless, can reach temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and should be used with extreme caution around children.

The Spring Fire Department echoed the importance of community education and encouraged residents to familiarize themselves with local regulations regarding fireworks while prioritizing safety throughout the holiday weekend.

About ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare    

ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare covers a 177 square mile area of northern Harris County with over 700,000 residents, the largest Emergency Service District in the state of Texas.  ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare receives over 65,000 calls a year and consistently ranks among the best EMS services in the country for speed of response, patient satisfaction and quality of care. The Harris County Emergency Services District 11 Communication Center, known as Control, is recognized as an ACE Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. This prestigious designation highlights our commitment to excellence in emergency dispatch services. As an ACE-accredited agency, we enjoy increased visibility in community service, enhanced support in litigation and liability management, and improved recruitment and retention, affirming the value and impact of our team’s work.   

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Contact: Miranda Sevcik, Public Information Officer 346-226-8808 

Spring, Tx. June 9, 2026: Fox 26 morning reporter Ruben Dominguez visited the Harris County ESD 11 call center to discuss the extensive planning and coordination underway to help keep residents, visitors, and fans safe during the upcoming World Cup in Houston.

“We have ways of getting in touch with other agencies in the moment, but we’ve also been meeting monthly, all the leaders of EMS together we all collectively, each agency sends one ambulance and that together with all the agencies gets you plenty of ambulances when you need it,” says Harris County ESD 11 CEO Jordan Anderson.    “We’re no stranger to disasters in Houston and if your particular area gets flooded with calls we can call the local agencies, and they can send ambulances and we have had that well understood for any potential disaster we have here.  Also, because of the international aspect of the fan base we anticipate foreign language calls as well and we are prepared with a language line that helps us 24/7 that we can utilize.” 

From emergency response readiness to interagency collaboration, ESD 11 is committed to ensuring a safe and successful experience for everyone attending this global event.

About Harris County ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare:       

Harris County ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare covers a 177 square mile area of northern Harris County with over 700,000 residents, the largest Emergency Service District in the state of Texas.  Harris County ESD 11 receives over 65,000 calls a year and consistently ranks among the best EMS services in the country for speed of response, patient satisfaction and quality of care. The Harris County Emergency Services District 11 Communication Center, known as Control, is recognized as an ACE Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. This prestigious designation highlights our commitment to excellence in emergency dispatch services. As an ACE-accredited agency, we enjoy increased visibility in community service, enhanced support in litigation and liability management, and improved recruitment and retention, affirming the value and impact of our team’s work.         

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Contact: Miranda Sevcik, ESD 11 Public Information Officer 346-226-8808