Children Need to Steer Clear of Lawn Mowers

Lawn mowers continue to be a major cause of serious injuries to children - often involving long hospitalizations and multiple operations to clean dirty wounds. Amputations of toes or other parts of the foot also are common.

"These injuries can occur when a child is operating a lawn mower, riding on one or playing in the yard while it is being mowed," says Dr. William Phillips, chief of pediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis at Texas Children's Hospital.

More severe injuries tend to occur in children less than 5 years old when they are riding on a mower with another person. Because these injuries most often happen at home, another family member is often involved, making the accident even more stressful.

Up to 85 percent of injuries could be prevented by not allowing children less than 14 to operate lawn mowers or to be in the yard while it is being mowed. No passengers should be allowed on riding mowers.

- From Texas Children's Hospital

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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