Lawn Mower Safety

Each year thousands of children are severely injured by lawn mowers. Most lawn mower-related injuries can be prevented by following some simple safety guidelines.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should be at least 12 years of age to operate a walk-behind power mower or hand mower safely and 16 years of age to operate a riding lawn mower safely. Before you allow your child to mow the lawn alone, spend time showing him or her how to do the job safely. Supervise your child’s work until you are sure that he or she can manage the task alone.

Similarly, children should never be allowed to ride on any all terrain type vehicles. These are vehicles are for adults to ride - not recreational toys for children.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics accidents involving all-terrain vehicles are an increasingly frequent cause of brain injury and death in children. Many people do not understand the risk associated with operation of these vehicles. Although construction design has promised to produce safer vehicles, studies have shown that extreme injury is still possible with the newer four wheel machines. Parents please keep children off of and away from these types of machines!