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Experts Warn about Risk of Lawnmower Injuries This Summer

For many children, mowing the lawn can be part of their summer activities. But child safety experts want to bring attention to the high risk of lawnmower injuries. However, many adults and most children seem to be unaware of the serious potential for injuries when adequate safety precautions are not taken while mowing lawns.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2007, nearly 210,000 people had to be rushed to emergency rooms with injuries they suffered while mowing the lawn. Out of these, approximately 16,200 involved children below the age of 19.

This June, a number of organizations have teamed up together in an effort to raise awareness about the heightened risk of lawnmower-related injuries during summer. The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics have collaborated to increase awareness among parents and children about these injuries.

In a child, accidents involving lawnmowers can lead to facial injuries, as well as injuries to the hands and feet. These injuries can be severe, and include mutilations, broken bones, lacerations and deep cuts. The tragedy is that all of these accidents are entirely preventable, and most of these occur because of parental or adult inattention.

These safety organizations are recommending the following tips to prevent lawnmower  injuries this summer.

Never allow a child to ride on a ride-on lawnmower. This practice often contributes to serious accidents.

Children below the age of 12 must never be allowed to operate any kind of lawnmower.

Ride-on lawnmowers are only meant for children above the age of 16.

If you’re mowing your lawn, make sure that your children are far away from the lawn mower, and in a safe area.

Never allow your child to play or ride his tricycle or bicycle around you when you’re mowing your lawn.

Before you mow your lawn, take some time to pick up stones, debris, twigs and other objects on the lawn. These objects can fly while you’re mowing your lawn, and could injure someone standing a few feet away.

Make sure you are adequately protected from lawnmower injuries yourselves. Wear eye and ear protection while mowing the lawn.

Many lawnmower injuries can be prevented if you’re using a safe lawnmower. Your lawnmower should come with a control that prevents it from going forward when you release the handle.

Your lawnmower’s blade settings must be set only by an adult. Never allow children to fiddle with the settings.

Start and fuel your lawnmower outside and not in an enclosed garage.

Before you remove the grass catcher or cross gravel roads, wait for the blades to stop turning completely.

Lawnmower injuries can include fractures and broken bones, know if damage and serious damage to the skin and tissue. That is why treatment for lawnmower- related injuries typically involves the collaboration of a team of physicians, including plastic surgeons , pediatricians and orthopedic surgeons. That’s why California injury lawyers recommend that you take all steps to prevent these injuries in the first place.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of lawnmower accidents. Please visit our website at http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us at contact@robertreeveslaw.com.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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