Sturdy Offers Lawn Mower Safety Tips

The following information is from Sturdy Memorial Hospital :

Now that we're moving from cabin to spring fever, many of us are starting to plan a spring full of outdoor projects, such as achieving a green and healthy lawn. But first we have to think about safety because each year thousands of people are injured by lawn mowers, which have extremely sharp blades moving at high speeds.

The Emergency Care Center at Sturdy Memorial Hospital, in collaboration with Sturdy Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Associates (SOSMA), offers a few simple precautions that can help you get the job done safely:

1. Before you begin mowing, check the yard and remove toys, sticks and other objects that may jam the mower or be propelled when hit by the mower's blades.

2. Keep others a safe distance away from the mowing area and never leave your mower unattended while it is running.

3. No matter how tempting, be firm and turn down children's requests for a "ride" on the mower. 

"Never transport passengers on a lawn mower," said Dr. Brian Kelly, board certified in emergency medicine and chief of ambulatory care/emergency medicine at Sturdy. "Protect your family by teaching them that a lawn mower is a powerful yard tool, not a motorized toy."

4. Protect yourself while mowing.

"Always wear gloves when handling yard debris to avoid splinters and thorns, which may result in serious hand infections,” said Dr. Marco Dirks, board certified orthopedic wurgeon at SOSMA, who specializes in hand and wrist problems. "Wear enclosed shoes and close-fitting clothing, and avoid wearing jewelry or dangling accessories that could get caught during the mower’s operation. Never mow wet grass, and do not mow at dusk or at night." 

5. And perhaps most importantly, never attempt to fix or service alawn mower while it is running.

“To prevent injury, keep your hands and feet away from the mower’s moving blades at all times," Dirks said. "Always turn the mower off before trying to remove debris from the blades, and use a stick instead of your hands or feet to clear the clog."