Lawnmower Injury (ER)
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Comment| Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 | Emily Halevy | CWK Producer |
“It was a parent’s worst nightmare. And he had a significant amount of damage to his entire body. Where usually you’ll see an extremity injury -- a foot, a hand – [Austin] involved several organ systems.”
– Dr. Timothy Kane, M.D., surgeon
It seems pretty harmless to crank up the lawnmower and cut the grass, but each year nearly 80,000 people end up in the emergency room because of mowing accidents, and 10,000 of them are children.
Three-year-old Austin has been through a lot … the doctors and nurses know him well. They say he is “a real trooper.”
Austin’s mother was cutting the grass using a riding lawnmower. She didn’t see her son when he ran up to her – right behind the lawnmower – as she was backing up.
“I turned all the way around and looked between the wheels and he was lying there,” says Benita Ratzlaff.
“It was a parent’s worst nightmare. And he had a significant amount of damage to his entire body. Where usually you’ll see an extremity injury -- a foot, a hand – [Austin] involved several organ systems,” says Dr. Timothy Kane, M.D., surgeon.
“They had to give him a blood transfusion as soon as we got [to the emergency room]. They said five more minutes and he could have bled to death,” says Ratzlaff.
“Right here on his belly is where the blades cut. And he’s got another cut down through here,” Ratzlaff explains.
The blades also cut off Austin’s right foot. He will need to undergo several surgeries, and then he will get a prosthetic foot.
“He’ll be able to outrun everybody in the class -- I’ll bet he’ll be jumping along,” says Kane. “They told me two to three months and he’ll be walking again.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children stay indoors when someone is mowing the grass. They also advise that kids not be allowed on a riding lawnmower as a passenger -- not even to sit on Mom or Dad’s lap -- it’s just too dangerous.
“You have to watch them every minute. You can’t turn your back or take them for granted or just think they’re going to be somewhere they’re not,” says Ratzlaff.
Tips for Parents
To prevent lawnmower injuries to children, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:
- Use a mower where the power stops automatically when the handle is let go. This control should never be disconnected.
- Do not allow children younger than 14 to use ride-on mowers. Do not allow children younger than 12 to use walk-behind mowers.
- Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while mowing.
- Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Use a collection bag for grass clippings or a plate that covers the opening where cut grass is released. Have anyone who uses a mower wear protective eyewear.
- While the lawn is being mowed, keep others away or inside to ensure their safety.
- Start and refuel mowers outdoors, not in a garage or shed. Mowers should be refueled with the motor turned off and cool.
- Make sure that blade settings (to set the wheel height or dislodge debris) are done by an adult, with the mower off and the spark plug removed or disconnected.
Dr. David Bishai, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor and senior author of a study at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, adds:
- Never service the mower while it is running
- Mow only in good weather conditions -- avoid mowing in high temperatures or in rainy conditions
- Do not use a riding mower on steep hills or embankments
- Do not carry passengers on riding mowers or tow passengers behind any lawnmower
- Store lawnmowers in an area with minimal traffic and not accessible to children
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
