JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In 2013, more than 301,000 people were treated for lawn mower-related injuries in a medical clinic or emergency department, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. More than 10,500 of those injuries occurred in children younger than 18. While the dangers are real, they are preventable.
Accidents can happen to anyone, even a senior writer at Angie's List who writes about ways to prevent injuries.
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"I wrote a cover story on DIY disasters just a few months ago and I honestly thought that some of the mistakes were so silly and so crazy, that it could never really happen to me. And now I find myself in one of the biggest mistakes of all time, so it can happen to anybody," said Lacey Nix. "I was in the backyard and got to the last final strip of grass. I was kind of distracted. I had my headphones in, saying hi to my kids and I hit something with the mower. I heard a loud noise and then felt this sharp pain in my leg."
That sharp pain was the result of a metal hanger that ripped straight through her lower left leg. Her fiancé rushed her to the hospital where doctors had to perform emergency surgery.
Angie's List Tips: Preventing lawn mower injuries
- Always wear eye and hearing protection.
- Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing – not sandals.
- Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.
- Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary – carefully look for others behind you when you do.
- Pick up stones, toys and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.
- Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawn mower, and at least 16 years old for a ride-on mower.
- Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.
- Young children should be at a safe distance from the area you are mowing.
Angie's List: Lawn mower maintenance
- When storing the lawn mower for longer than a few weeks, siphon out the fuel.
- Empty out any baggers attached to the lawn mower after each use.
- Grass buildup and debris should be removed from the underside of the machine, blades and other areas of the lawn mower to prevent damage to the lawn mower.
- Batteries should be removed if they are used within the lawn mower before storing the machine. This can help to prevent freezing and damage to the cells within the battery.
- If you do not have the skills necessary to repair or maintain a lawn mower, enlist the help of a professional. This is especially important when working with the cutting blades and internal combustion components of the machine.
Angie's List Guide to Lawn Mower Repair: http://www.angieslist.com/landscaping/lawn-mower-repair.htm