When mowing your lawn this year, remember: “Lawn mowers and legs don’t mix!” The Amputee Coalition of America urges you to take proper precautions to ensure your own safety and that of others when operating a lawn mower this summer.

Every year, lawn mower accidents cause serious injuries to legs, arms, fingers, toes or other body parts. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200,000 people – around 16,000 of them under age 19 – were treated for lawn mower-related injuries in 2007. And more than 600 children undergo amputations each year as the result of lawn mower-related injuries.

“Amputations from lawn mower accidents are among the most preventable,” says Kendra Calhoun, president and CEO of the Amputee Coalition of America. “By following commonsense safety rules, you can prevent lawn mower injuries to yourself and others. If you have children, or if children live and play near where you mow, taking proper precautions with lawn-mowing equipment is absolutely essential.”

The Amputee Coalition offers these safety guidelines:

·        Never allow children to play on a lawn mower, even if it is turned off.

·        Never allow a child to ride on a riding lawn mower with you.

·        Have your young children stay indoors while you are mowing.

·        Do not allow other children to play nearby while you are mowing.

·        As children mature, they will be capable of operating a lawn mower. Before they do, parents should explain the dangers of lawn mowers and their safe operation.

·        Children should be at least 12 years old before operating any lawn mower.

·        They should be at least 16 years old to operate a riding mower.

·        Additionally, parents must always follow their own safety rules to set a good example for their children.

Other organizations are also working to help reduce the number of injuries and deaths from lawn mowers. To help prevent injuries, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have teamed up to educate parents, adults and children about the importance of lawn mower safety.

The AAOS, AAP, ASRM and ASPS offer these additional tips to help prevent lawn mower-related injuries:

·        Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing – not sandals.

·        Before mowing, pick up stones, toys and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.

·        Always wear eye and hearing protection.

·        Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.

·        Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary – carefully look for others behind you when you do.

·        Start and refuel mowers outdoors – not in a garage. Refuel with the motor turned off and cool.

·        Blade settings should be set by an adult only.

·        Wait for blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute or crossing gravel roads.

Summer should be a time of fun and play for kids – and for adults, too. But parents have a responsibility to keep their children safe, particularly when operating dangerous and potentially deadly machinery like lawn mowers. So always remember: “Lawn mowers and legs don’t mix!”