Chicago – Using a lawn mower is often as routine as bike riding or barbeques during spring and summer months.  But often, people find themselves in terrifying situations with these seemingly safe household machines.  In fact, 200,000 people – 16,000 of them children – are injured in lawn mower-related accidents each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports.  However, lawn mowers don’t “attack” on their own.  Most injuries-- such as severed fingers and toes, limb amputations, broken bones, burns and eye injuries – are caused by careless use and can be prevented by following a few simple safety tips.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM) have teamed up to prevent injuries and to educate adults and children about the importance of lawn mower safety during National Safety Month, June 2009.

“No parent wants a beautiful summer day to turn into a tragedy for a child. Yet we see the results of children operating lawn mowers in an unsafe manner every year. As pediatricians, it is part of our job to be sure parents and children know how to be safe around these machines,” said AAP president David T. Tayloe, Jr, MD, FAAP.   

"In 19 years of practice as a plastic surgeon and microsurgeon, some of the most devastating and disabling injuries I've treated are from lawn mower accidents,” said ASRM President William Zamboni, MD. “It's especially concerning when children are injured since most of these injuries are preventable."

“Power lawn mowers are dangerous adult tools, but many children, and sometimes adults unfortunately, see them as toys,” said ASPS President John Canady, MD.  “Lawn mowing can be dangerous to the operator as well as those nearby if proper safety precautions aren’t taken.  Physicians of this coalition often repair these heart-wrenching injuries and it’s our duty to help people avoid these accidents and injuries in the first place.”

The AAP, AAOS, ASMA, ASPS and ASRM offer the following tips to help prevent lawn mower-related injuries:

• Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawn mower, and at least 16 years old for a ride-on mower.
• Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.
• Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing – not sandals.
• Young children should be at a safe distance from the mowing area.
• Pick up stones, toys and debris first 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 – always 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. (As a safety feature, some newer models have a blade/brake clutch that stops the blade each time the operator releases the handle.)

Many lawn mower-related injuries require a team of physicians from various specialties – plastic surgery, microsurgery, maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics, and orthopaedics – to properly repair them.  Often, patients must endure painful reconstructive operations for months, sometimes years, to restore form and function.

AAP Resources

AAP policy statement, Lawn Mower-Related Injuries to Children
AAP “Parent Page” on lawn mower safety
AAP’s “A Minute for Kids” radio spot on lawn mower safety

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. (www.aap.org)

An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician who treats the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. With more than 35,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org) or (www.orthoinfo.org) is the premier not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions the interests of patients and advances the highest quality musculoskeletal health.

The American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons is the oldest organization representing maxillofacial plastic surgeons.  The Society accomplishes its mission to advance the science and practice of surgery of the facial region and the craniofacial skeleton through excellence in education and research, and advocacy on behalf of patients and practitioners.
www.maxface.org

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 6,700 members, ASPS is a leading authority on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.  ASPS Member Surgeons are certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.  www.plasticsurgery.org

The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery is an organization of more than 600 surgeons that perform microsurgery and other complex reconstructive surgeries.  The ASRM is dedicated to promoting, encouraging and advancing the art and science of microsurgery and other complex reconstructions through education and research.  For more information, please visit www.microsurg.org.

AAP Communications
June 2009