Shriners Hospitals for Children treat a number of kids who have been seriously injured as a result of power lawnmower accidents. Many of these incidents result in loss of fingers, toes and even eyes. Tragically, still other lawnmower accidents result in permanent brain injury or death. One of every five deaths caused by a lawnmower involves a child. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that most of the deaths to children occur when a child falls off the riding mower and is run over, or when a child is in a moving mower's path. Sadly, in nearly every situation, those tragedies can be prevented if parents or guardians take a little precaution. Injuries and deaths from lawnmower accidents can be reduced dramatically if parents follow the guidelines within this brochure. These general safety tips are brought to you by Shriners Hospitals and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Please always be aware of mowing dangers and help keep children safe.
ALWAYS PREPARE YOUR LAWN FOR MOWING
Check your lawn for items such as sticks, rocks, toys, sports equipment, dog bones, wire and equipment parts. Make sure miscellaneous items are not hidden in tall grass. The debris could be thrown while mowing, possibly hitting the operator or bystanders.
HANDLE FUEL WITH CARE
Always use care when filling the tank with gasoline. Wipe up spills. Never fill the tank on a mower that has been operating and is hot. Finally, never smoke or use any type of flame around gasoline.
WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING AND SHOES
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, close-fitting clothes, eye protection, heavy gloves, hearing protection when needed, and no jewelry, which can get caught in moving parts. Do not operate a mower whtn barefoot or wearing open sandals. Wear sturdy shoes with slp-resistant rubber soles.
CHECK GUARDS & SHIELDS ON YOUR MOWER
Be sure you know how to operate the mowing equipment. Know where the controls are and what they do. Don't remove or disable guards or other safety devices.
USE A MOWER WITH AN AUTOMATIC BLADE CUT-OFF
Use only a mower with an automatic blade cut-off on the handle. And stay behind the handle for several seconds until the blade stops after releasing the blade control bar. Never reach underneath a mower while it is still operating--even if the blade is not spinning. If you need to remove debris or check the blade, disconnect the wire from the spark plugl
DON'T CUT GRASS WHEN IT'S WET
Wet clippings will probably clog the discharge chute and ultimately could jam the blade and shut down the engine. When you need to remove clippings from the chute, the rotary blade must be stopped. Wet grass may also cause the mower or your feet to slide because of the reduced traction.
RIDING MOWERS CAN BE DANGEROUS
Passengers should NEVER be allowed on a riding mower. Don't use a riding mower to mow areas where the lawn slopes.