Did you know that, for children under age 10, major limb loss is most commonly caused by lawnmowers? Although amputations resulting from lawnmower accidents are among the most preventable, hundreds of children in the United States become amputees every year.
Typically unaware of the danger, children are most often injured when running behind a lawnmower, slipping underneath the mower while riding, being hit by mower blades when the machine is in reverse, or being struck when the mower rolls over.
Because of this, the Amputee Coalition has put together a fact sheet on lawnmower safety, which will provide you with helpful tips and best practices when operating a push or riding lawnmower. While we all want our lawns to look neat and freshly cut, especially with spring approaching, it is important that we take precautions to avoid limb loss or injury.
Even if you don’t have a child at home, we encourage you to educate yourself. Sharing your knowledge with friends, family, and neighbors may just save a limb!