FW: lawnmower safety for kids

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LAWNMOWERS CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH

Devastating accidents to the hand and fingers can occur when used improperly

SPRINGFIELD- Every summer, lawnmowers are constantly running as homeowners try to keep their yards trim and beautiful. Unfortunately, “lawnmowing season” brings many people, especially children, with devastating hand injuries to emergency departments such as Baystate Medical Center.

            According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, every year more than 74,000 small children, adolescents and adults are injured by rotary, hand and riding power mowers due to the improper handling of lawnmowers.

            “Every summer we see patients, both adults and children, who come into our office with severe injuries to their hand and fingers,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wint of the Hand Center of Western Mass.

“Often parents will give their children a ride on the lawnmower as a treat, but this can be very dangerous, as kids can fall off and get injured. Adults who attempt to maintain mowers without taking proper safety precautions often get injured, too,” added Dr. Wint, who is a member of the medical staff at Baystate Medical Center.

  According to Dr. Wint, 20 percent of lawnmower injuries are to the hand, wrist or fingers and about 25 - 50 percent of those injuries result in amputation. He noted that injuries from lawnmower accidents can be devastating and extremely hard to treat.

“Injuries can become contaminated from soil or dirt from the mower, which can lead to serious infections resulting in amputations,” Dr. Wint warned.

Most injuries can be avoided by using common sense and practicing safe mowing. To stay safe while mowing:

      Never allow children to operate the machine.

n       Children under age 6 should remain indoors when the lawn is being mowed.

Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area.

Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the machine and the mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them

n       Safety training is essential for those old enough to operate a lawnmower.  Supervise your children     until you are satisfied they understand how to safely operate the mower and can manage the task alone.

n       Never service mowers while in operation and always keep them in good working order.

n       Do not use hands or feet to clean mower, especially around the blade, because even with the mower off, there can still be tension on the blade, which can spin rapidly once cleared. Always use a stick or broom handle to remove any obstruction

n       When mowing a slope with a walk-behind mower, mow across the face of the slope, not up and down.

n       When using a riding mower, go up and down the slope rather than across to avoid tipping over.

n       Read mower's instruction manual and do not remove safety devices or guards.

Do not mow in bad weather, in poor light, or on wet grass.

Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, and trees, or other objects that may block your view of a child.

      Never allow passengers, other than the operator, on riding mowers.

Never carry children, even with the blade(s) shut off. They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe mower operation. Children who have been given rides in the past may suddenly appear in the mowing area for another ride and be run over or backed over by the machine

n       Do not operate lawnmower while barefoot and wear gloves, long pants and goggles.

          

  Parents need to remember that lawnmowers are not toys and must be used appropriately. Many children have died from accidents on or around mowers. Dr. Wint warns that lawnmowers can be “a potential lethal weapon and just as dangerous as giving a child a loaded gun.”

Wint cites the American Society for Surgery of the Hand which offers these revealing figures:

Kinetic energy (motion) imparted by a standard rotary blade is comparable  to three times the muzzle energy of a .357 Magnum pistol. Blade speed can eject a piece of wire or an object at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

He said there is a need to create an awareness of the potential dangers of lawnmowers, as many of the accidents are preventable.

“It is heartbreaking to see some of these children’s injuries,” said Dr. Wint. “Remembering these few safety precautions and using sound judgment can keep everyone safe and lawns looking great this summer.”