Mow Safe, Keep Kids Safe

04/12/2010

Riley Hospital for Children Urges Lawn Mower Safety

INDIANAPOLIS – It's springtime in Indiana and that means Hoosiers are eager to get outside, enjoy the warmer weather and work in their yards. The change in seasons however poses an inevitable risk to children working or playing outside.

"Every year, we see children admitted to Riley due to carelessness when operating lawn equipment," says Tres Scherer, MD, medical director, Riley Hospital for Children Pediatric Trauma Center. "Many of these injuries are crippling and yet, preventable."

Indiana children are not alone. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, each year approximately 9,000 children under the age of 18 are injured by power lawn mowers nationwide.

Riley Hospital wants the public to be aware. Common lawn mower injuries can include:

• Amputation of body parts (fingers, toes, arms or legs)
• Deep cuts, damaging skin, muscle and bone
• Fractures of hand, feet, arms or legs
• Head, facial and eye injuries
• Burns from hot mower parts

"Adults and children need to exercise caution and common sense when operating any type of machinery, especially lawn mowers. Good advice is to expect the unexpected and keep children under the age of 12 away from lawn mowers and the mowing area," added Dr. Scherer.

To help prevent injury or even death, Riley Hospital recommends the following:

• Never allow a child under the age of 12 to operate a push or riding lawn mower, or a tractor pulling a brush mower.
• Never allow a child to ride on the lap of the driver, on the seat, on the fender or on the housing of a riding mower or a tractor pulling a brush mower.
• Read the operator's manual for the mower – particularly any safety precautions.
• Never leave a power mower unattended while the engine is running.
• Protect against flying objects by keeping children more than 50 feet (15 meters) away from the operating mower.
• NEVER allow a child in the yard of a riding lawn mower. Too often, a mower can inadvertently back-over and maim a child in the yard.

CONTACT:
Kit Werbe
317.963.7692 (o)
317.217.0422 (c)
cwerbe1@clarian.org

About Riley Hospital for Children
As one of the nation's leading pediatric hospitals and Indiana's first and only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital for Children, a part of Clarian Health, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families for 85 years. Each year, Riley Hospital and Riley Hospital at Clarian North serve over 215,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Riley Hospital's partnership with Clarian Health, and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, makes it the only comprehensive clinical resource for Indiana's children and the premiere source for health-related information for their parents. From simple care associated with the health and wellness of children and less complex specialty care to the most critically-ill and medically complex cases, Riley Hospital for Children is a national leader. Clarian Health operates the Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law. Visit Riley Hospital for Children for more information.