Mowing Safety

According to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons' 2006 data, over 100,000 people in the United States suffered an injury in a lawn mower accident for that year. The group reported most injuries occur among adults age 25 to 64, followed by children under the age of 5. More than 22 percent of injuries involved the wrist, hand or finger, and around 14 percent involved the foot, ankle or toes.

Some of the most common injuries are due to slipping behind and under the lawn mower on wet grass (yikes!), or overturning a lawnmower on a steep hill resulting in serious damage to feet and toes or worse. Minor injuries may include burns from touching the muffler. Other serious injuries could result from a piece of metal, rock or wood flying out of the discharge chute at up to 100 mph and hitting a bystander or pet. More simply put, any activity with a mower is dangerous, and requires the same respect you would give to using a skill saw or other open-bladed power equipment.

Most lawn mower injuries are preventable if some basic safety guidelines are followed. The main thing is to wear protective clothing. Protective goggles, gloves, boots and long pants are a must, even when it is 100 degrees outside. Never, ever, mow barefoot or in sandals! Have your lawn mower serviced before the start of the season to ensure it's working properly. Do not remove any safety devices on the machine! Be sure to add fuel before starting the engine, not when it's running or hot. The liquid could overflow and flame up. Finally, keep hands and feet away from the lawn mower blade even if the machine is turned off. Once cleared of an obstruction, the engine may release stored energy, propelling the blade around and causing an injury. There are many professional mower technicians missing a finger or two that have learned this the hard way.

Similar rules apply to chainsaws, string trimmers and other outdoor power equipment. You may consider Kevlar-filament chaps that are designed to tangle into the chainsaw chain on contact and stop the saw in a fraction of a second as opposed to cutting into your leg. Hearing protection should also be considered. These items are not nearly as expensive as you may think. It never hurts to be safe, that's the point.

Keeping your yard trimmed and manicured can be a very satisfying hobby that reduces stress and provides beneficial exercise. It is a good thing. But using the proper tools, in good working order and wearing protective clothing are an absolute must!