Kansas City,
07
April
2016
|
10:51 AM
America/Chicago

Important safety tips to prevent lawn mower injuries this summer

Dr. Dale Jarka

In 2014, seven lawn mower-related injuries were reported; the same number of injuries was reported just two days into June 2015. Last year, a total of fourteen cases were treated at Children's Mercy. Dr. Dale Jarka, Orthopedia Surgeon at Children's Mercy treated seven of those fourteen. 

Consciousness of lawn mower safety is paramount, especially in spring. Children tend to be attracted to mowers in use, so help promote awareness of safety. Children lose feet, legs, hands and suffer a variety of other injuries in power-mower accidents. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that more than 17,000 children and teens are treated for such injuries each year.

"Sometimes common sense isn't so common," Dr. Jarka said. "Many of the accidents involving children happen when they fall off a riding mower while sitting on grandpa's lap, for example. It's considered fun, but the consequences can be tragic."

Children don't have to be on a mower to be endangered. Dr. Jarka once had a case where a child was on a porch, squirting his grandmother with a water pistol. The child was so delighted that he took off intending to also squirt his grandfather who was mowing, while the grandmother took off her glasses to wipe off the water. The child slipped, fell under the mower, and lost a foot. "It happened that quickly," Dr. Jarka said.

Other common mower accidents occur when an operator backs up and collides with a child who is too close, or a mower hits a stone, stick or other object, turning it into a projectile.

The best practice is to keep children inside when mowing. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has the following additional safety and prevention tips:

  • Never allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on lawn mowers or garden tractors - even with the blade disengaged. It portrays the wrong message that these are fun toys.
  • Make sure that children are indoors or at a safe distance well away from the area that you plan to mow.
  • Clear the mowing area of any objects such as twigs, stones, and toys, that could be picked up and thrown by the lawn mower blades.
  • Do not pull the mower backwards or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.
  • Remain aware of where children are and do not allow them near the area where you are working. Children tend to be attracted to mowers in use.

Read the full story here.

Learn more about Children's Mercy's Division of Pediatric Orthopedics