The power lawn mower is one of the most dangerous tools around the home. Each year, nearly 10,000 children are treated in emergency departments for lawn mower injuries.
“They are naturally attracted to it. It’s a machine.”
When 16-month-old Austin Sillick hears the lawn mower, he thinks it’s time to play.
“He likes anything that makes noise,” said Austin’s mom, Rachel Sillick. “I pull him away and say ‘no, it’s not a toy.’”
While riding mowers bear the brunt of the blame for injuries, a push mower’s blade can cut and its motor can burn.
Push mowers can be dangerous and cause serious injuries. Most people, especially children, are hurt when whirling debris is thrown out from the blades, like rocks, twigs and even toys.
“They injure the legs,” said Dr. Anne Brayer, an emergency room physician. “We see eye injuries from that, so it’s important to ear eye protection.”
The power lawn mower is one of the most dangerous tools around the home. Each year, nearly 10,000 children are treated in emergency departments for lawn mower injuries. Diana Palotas has more.
Because mowers make so much noise, ear protection is also recommended, but that can cause other problems.
“The mower makes so much noise that whoever is operating it may not hear that the child is close by. We had one serious injury so far this year,” Dr. Brayer said. “It was actually a partial amputation of the foot from getting underneath the blades.”
Dr. Brayer is also with the Injury Free Coalition for Kids. It suggest that no one under age 12 operate a push mower and no one under age 16 on a riding mower.
For kids like Austin, it’s best they play inside while the mower’s on outside.
“We really recommend that all children be in the house and out of the way when someone is operating a mower,” Dr. Brayer said.