June 27, 2002
Preventing lawn mower injuries to children
Lawn mowers can be dangerous. That’s the message from physicians at the Harborview Medical Center after serious injuries to children this spring and summer.
Lawn mowers cause 83 percent of foot and ankle amputations to children, according to an article by Harborview physicians published in the November 1996 Journal of Trauma. In fact, more than 60,000 injuries related to lawn mowing are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year. Lawn mowers cause nearly half (46 percent) of all injuries to children under 5-years-old, and 34 percent of all pediatric amputations. These findings are based on research conducted at Harborview, the state’s only Level I trauma center, between 1984 and 1994.
“Our research shows that lawn mowers can be extremely dangerous,” says Dr. Jerry Jurkovich, chief of trauma at Harborview and University of Washington professor of surgery. “Push behind mowers and riding mowers, which are so much more powerful, need to be used very carefully when there are children around.”
Jurkovich notes that children under the age 15 have more lawn mower injuries than any other age group. He recommends that only properly trained children, 15-years-old or older, should be allowed to mow the lawn alone.
Harborview physicians make these recommendations:
– Children should never ride on lawn mowers.
– Younger children and pets shouldn’t be in the yard when a lawn mower is in use.
– Wear shoes and long pants.
– Clear the yard of sticks, stones and other debris that may be shot from the mower.
– Do not allow passengers on riding lawn mowers.
– Stay clear of hot engines. Lawn mower mufflers can reach up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
– Never leave a mower unattended while the motor is running.
– Never adjust mower height or clean/remove the grass chute with the engine running.
– Never smoke when filling the gas tank.
– Read the owner’s manual before using the lawn mower.
– Do not mow the lawn at dusk or night when it is difficult to see.
