Dear Doctor Column, July 5, 2004

Lawn Mowers Not Child's Play

Question:

My husband insists it's safe for our child to ride the lawn mower with him when cutting the grass. I disagree, and we continue to argue over the issue. Is it safe for children to ride lawn mowers, even with an adult?

Answer:

Absolutely not. A power lawn mower is one of the most dangerous tools around the home, particularly for children. Children shouldn't be anywhere near the operation of lawn mowers or anywhere near the mowing area. This goes for all types of outdoor power equipment.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC), blades of rotary-type power lawn mowers revolve at speeds between 1800 and 3000 revolutions per minute. This means the cutting edge of a 20-inch blade is traveling at speeds between 100 and 190 miles per hour. Imagine what could happen if an adult or child was struck by a steel blade traveling that fast or by a stone or piece of wire thrown by the blade.

In fact, a recent USCPSC survey revealed that approximately two thirds of lawn mower injuries were caused by direct contact with mowers, and one third of injuries were caused by objects thrown by mowers. The survey also revealed about 33% of the direct contact injuries were to toes and feet, and 25% to fingers and hands. The primary cause of accidents were due to carelessness or the operator's lack of knowledge about the machine.

The tendency to take kids for a ride on the mower is a careless, old habit, probably learned by people who remember going for rides on lawn tractors when they were young. They think it's okay to ride with their kids, too. But riding with a child on a mower was an unsafe practice then just as it is today. Yet, USCPSC data reveal more than 25,000 injuries and 75 deaths occur each year on or near lawn mowers. Tragically, 1 of 5 deaths involve a child. Most deaths occur when a child falls off the riding mower and is run over or when a child is in a moving mower's path.

Safety experts offer these steps to safe mowing:

• Know how to operate the equipment. Read the operator's manual and understand where the controls are and what they do. Teenagers should only be allowed to operate a mower if they possess adequate strength and maturity to do so safely.
• Dress properly for the job. Wear long pants, close-fitting clothes, safety glasses, and sturdy shoes, preferably with a steel toe. Never wear sandals or tennis shoes, which can't protect your feet and toes should they slip under the mower.
• Handle gas carefully. Wipe up spills. Never fill the tank on a mower that's hot. Never smoke or use any kind of flame around gasoline. Store gas in an approved container in a cool, ventilated area.
• Clear the area before you start. Pick up anything that could be thrown by mowing equipment, such as rocks, twigs, cans, toys, and golf balls. A grass catcher is an added safety feature. Don't cut the grass when it's wet. Don't use a riding mower in areas where the lawn slopes.
• Operate equipment carefully and follow safety procedures. Keep mower blades sharp so the machine can be operated at the lowest possible speed. Use a mower with an automatic blade cut-off. Don't leave a mower unattended and always remove the key.
• Keep hands and feet away from moving parts. Never work on equipment while it's running and never remove or tamper with safety devices and labels. If you need to remove debris to check the blade, disconnect the wire from the spark plug.