Too Many Children Injured Severely by Lawn Mowers
Every year too many children are injured by lawn mowers, often severely. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated an annual average of 36,000 people treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries caused by lawn mowers between 2012 and 2014, with one in five being a child. Power mowers can be especially dangerous, with children getting caught under them, in the blades, and as the recipients of stones and other debris ejected from the mower like a bullet.
Most lawn mower-related injuries can be prevented by following safety guidelines. The USBJI Pediatric Specialty Group is especially concerned with this issue and has assembled a number of safety tip resources, some of which can be downloaded, posted on the kitchen refrigerator, and tied to your lawnmower.
Resources
American Academy of Pediatrics
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Lawnmower-Safety.aspx
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/Summer-Safety-Tips-Staying-Safe-Outdoors.aspx
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Video: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=V00002
http://www.aaos.org/about/papers/position/1142.asp
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00670
Shriners Hospitals for Children
http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/safesummer
Lawn Mower Safety Facts for You and Your Children
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
https://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Safety%20Education/Home%20Garden%20Outdoors/5126%20Walk%20Behind%20Power%20Mower%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
News Report
http://abcnews.go.com/US/lawn-mower-injury-alert/story?id=32059032
http://www.kmbc.com/news/doctor-issues-warning-after-rash-of-lawn-mower-accidents/33366008