Lawn mower injuries on the increase

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Around two out of every thousand emergency room injuries come from a lawn mower, according to the latest figure.
Mowing the lawn is a necessary chore, but it shouldn't be a dangerous one. Yet, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, nearly 80,000 injuries a year are caused by lawn mowers and this figure has been increasing in recent years. The team analyzed data on injuries reported to the emergency room. The figure for lawn mower injuries is half the number treated for firearm injuries each year.

Children under 12 and people over 60 are most at risk of lawn mower injuries. The most common problem is being hit by a projectile that's been propelled by the machine's spinning blades. Pain after mowing and injuries when servicing a mower are also common. Foot fractures are the most common mower-related injuries requiring hospitalization.

The researchers offer some safe mowing guidelines. Don't let anyone else on the lawn when mowing and don't do it at all if you have a history of chest, joint or back pain. Never service the mower with the engine running and get help in lifting it. Avoiding mowing in high heat and do not use a riding mower on steep hill or embankments. Follow these tips and you'll avoid clogging the emergency room queue with a lawn mower injury.

Source
Annals of Emergency Medicine online April 2006

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