Keep your child safe around lawn mowers

Kristen Nathe, MD

Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery

Springtime brings longer days, which means more time to work and play in the yard. You may even want to let your kids pitch in, planting flowers or gardening. Kristen Nathe, MD, offered some advice to help keep your children safe from dangerous yard equipment such as lawn mowers.

In the United States, more than 9,000 children go to the emergency room due to lawn mower related injuries each year. The sharp, fast-moving blades of a mower can cause severe cuts, broken bones or even sever limbs. In fact, lawnmower accidents are the leading cause of traumatic amputations in children, and most of these children are injured in their own yard.

“It’s important for parents to know the risks, so they can make sure to keep their children safe,” said Dr. Nathe.

 She explains that lawn mower injuries can be caused by:

• Falling near the lawn mower
• Getting run over or struck by the lawn mower
• Falling when riding with the operator of the lawn mower
• Simply touching the hot surface of a lawn mower

Fortunately, most of these injuries can be easily avoided. Dr. Nathe offered these tips to help keep children safe around lawn mowers:

• Children should be at least 12 years old to use a push lawn mower.
• Children should be at least 16 years old to use a riding lawn mower.
• Do not allow children to ride on riding lawn mowers.
• Carefully look for children behind you before mowing in reverse.
• Don’t leave a running lawn mower unattended.
• Do not use your hands or feet to remove debris from a mower.

 If a lawn mower related injury occurs, call 911 right away.