Keeping Yard Work Safe
The smell of fresh-cut grass. The beauty of a well-groomed lawn. Americans spend hundreds of hours tending to their lawns and gardens every year. And even though millions of homeowners routinely use power lawn and garden tools without mishap, there is still a fairly constant parade of people into the hospital emergency room with injuries, particularly children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that more than 25,000 people are injured and 75 people are killed annually in riding lawnmower, tractor and garden tractor accidents. One out of every five deaths involves a young child. Most of the deaths occur when a child falls off a mower and is run over, or when a child moves into a mower's path. Flying debris - such as twigs, rocks, glass or wire - is also a serious hazard. Walk-behind mowers can be just as dangerous, with more than 37,000 emergency room visits attributed to mowers every year. Foot and hand injuries are the most common, but burns, lacerations and eye injuries occur regularly. Despite the danger, a CPSC survey revealed that 55 percent of households with children under age 10 allow children to ride on or play around lawn mowing equipment. People tend to become careless about routine yard care and forget that a lawnmower can be a dangerous piece of machinery. Children are the most vulnerable because they can't understand the consequences. Kosair Children's Hospital recommends the following safety precautions for lawnmower and garden tractor use:
For Children
- Never take a young child for a ride on a garden tractor or lawnmower.
- Never allow children to operate power lawn and garden equipment, even if the child is being supervised. Teenagers should only be allowed to operate outdoor power tools if they are strong enough and mature enough to do so.
- Supervise children at all times when power equipment is being used and keep them inside if possible.
- Never assume children will remain where you last saw them. Be alert and turn off the mower if children enter the mowing area. Use extra care when backing up or when approaching corners, shrubs and trees.
- Clear the mowing area of objects such as rocks, toys, twigs, etc. before mowing.
- Mow during daylight hours.
- Make sure safety devices on the equipment are in place and functioning properly.
- Be sure that power tools are turned off and made inoperable if they must be left unattended to prevent use by children.
For Adults
- Dress appropriately for the task. This includes long pants, long-sleeved shirts, close-fitting clothes, no jewelry, sturdy shoes and eye protection.
- Unplug electric tools and disconnect spark plug wires on gasoline-powered tools before making adjustments or clearing jams near moving parts.
- Handle gas carefully. Never fill gasoline tanks while the mower is running or still hot. Store gas in an approved container and wipe up all spills. Never smoke or use any type of flame near gasoline.
- Do not work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions and never cut grass when it's wet. Wet clippings can clog the discharge chute and jam the blades.
- Avoid wearing headphones when mowing or operating power tools.
In An Emergency
If you believe your child needs emergency care, contact your child's doctor. If you're unable to reach your physician - or in the event of a serious emergency - bring your child straight to the emergency department at Kosair Children's Hospital, any hour of the day or night. Kosair Children's has the staff, the facilities, the equipment, and the technology to handle any pediatric emergency, from the smallest cut to the most serious injury.
Why Kosair Children's Hospital Cares
Kosair Children's Hospitalis Kentucky's only free-standing, full-service hospital dedicated exclusively to caring for children, adolescents and young adults. We have a strong commitment to the health and safety of all children. For more information on keeping yard work safe or to inquire about free fact sheets on a variety of health and safety subjects, call (502) 629-KIDS or 1-800-852-1770.
