Newswise — The lawn mower is one of the most dangerous household tools. Each year 68,000 people are treated in the emergency department for lawn mower related injuries, and 9,000 of them are children under the age of 18. Most childhood injuries due to lawn mowers are related to riding mowers, and most are injured in their own yard.
“One important statistic to remember is that a significant number of these accidents occur among family members,” says Junichi Tamai, MD, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. “Most families think that if the child stays with a family member, everything will be okay, but that is not the case.”
Most common injuries associated with mowers can include lacerations, amputations, fractures, infections and skin defects.
Dr. Tamai and the American Academy of Pediatrics give the following tips for staying safe around lawn mowers.
SAFETY TIPS• Only use a power mower with a control that stops the mower if the handle is let go. This control should never be disconnected. • Ensure there is automatic blade disengagement when the mower is placed in reverse gear• Start and refuel mowers outdoors, not in a garage or shed. Mowers should be refueled with the motor turned off and cool. • Make sure that blade settings (to set the wheel height or dislodge debris) are done by an adult, with the mower off and the spark plug removed or disconnected• Children younger than 15 years should not be in the yard when the lawn is being mowed• No passengers should be carried on ride-on mowers• Wear hard-soled shoes around mowers • Use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go. • Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers.• Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind mowers. • Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while mowing. • Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. • Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection. • Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse. • Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas. • Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.
About Cincinnati Children'sCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ranks third in the nation among all Honor Roll hospitals in U.S.News and World Report's 2011 Best Children's Hospitals ranking. It is ranked #1 for gastroenterology and in the top 10 for all pediatric specialties - a distinction shared by only two other pediatric hospitals in the United States. Cincinnati Children's is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health. It is internationally recognized for improving child health and transforming delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research, education and innovation. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.
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