CGH Medical Center issued the following announcement on Oct. 17.
Mowing your lawn might seem routine. But each year, nearly 6,400 people in the U.S. wind up in hospital emergency departments (EDs) with lawnmower injuries, a new study shows. And they're not minor injuries—most people need surgery or a hospital stay.
That's despite public awareness campaigns about the risks of lawnmower injuries, the researchers said.
A common injury: Amputation
Researchers used data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. That's the largest ED database in the country.
From 2006 to 2013, an estimated 51,151 people were hurt while mowing the lawn, the study found. Of those, more than 1 in 5 lost a body part. Almost 70 percent of the injuries were cuts and fractures.
Children up to age 4 were six times more likely to have a foot, toe or lower-extremity injury—and nearly two times more likely to have an amputation than those ages 15 and older.
This may be because kids often run into the yard when someone is mowing, the researchers said. They might also get their foot trapped in the blades while sitting on an adult's lap.
But teens and older adults were most likely to suffer hand and upper-extremity injuries—likely from sticking their hands into the mower to clear debris.
Emergency and hospital costs totaled an average of $37,000 per patient, the researchers estimated.
Researchers are calling for safer lawnmower designs—for example, a lawnmower that automatically stops working if human skin is detected near the blades.
The study appeared in the journal Public Health Reports. For more findings, check out the abstract.
Safety first
As this study shows, lawnmowers have the potential to be as dangerous as they are useful. To keep you and your family safe, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons urges these precautions:
Turn the mower off before clearing away debris. Always use a stick or broom (not your hands or feet).
Never mow barefoot or in flip-flops. Wear closed-toed shoes.
Remove stones, toys and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.
Teach kids to stay away from all lawnmowers, even when not in use.
Never allow a child to play in or near a lawn where someone is mowing.
Never allow a child or other passenger to ride on a lawnmower, even with parents.
Kids should be at least 12 years old before operating a push lawnmower and 16 before operating a riding mower.
Be careful when mowing hills and slopes. Mow across slopes with a push mower to avoid pulling the mower over your foot if you happen to slip. With a riding mower, move up and down slopes to keep it from tipping over.
Original source can be found here.
Source: CGH Medical Center
Alerts Sign-up