Lawn mowers can be “mean machines.” An estimated 80,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for injuries ranging from minor cuts to severe injuries such as amputations. Walk-behind and riding lawn mowers pose dangers to both the user and bystanders, and children are particularly vulnerable. From 2019 through 2023, there were approximately 24 lawn mower-associated deaths in Alabama.*
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offer the following safety tips to help prevent lawn mower-related injuries:
- Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawn mower, and at least 16 years old for a ride-on mower.
- Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.
- Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing--not sandals.
- Young children should be at a safe distance from the area you are mowing.
- Before mowing, pick up stones, toys, and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.
- Always wear eye and hearing protection.
- Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.
- Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary--carefully look for others behind you when you do.
- Start and refuel mowers outdoors--not in a garage. Refuel with the motor turned off and cool.
- Blade settings should be set by an adult only.
- Wait for blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel roads.
- Avoid driving backwards unless absolutely required. Use extreme caution if it is necessary to drive backward.
- When purchasing a lawn mower, look for one with a forward control mechanism that stops the machine from moving if the handle is released.
Remember that lawn mowers are powerful machines and must be used properly to prevent what could be life-changing injuries.
*Our department’s Center for Health Statistics noted that although these deaths were associated with (or involved) a lawn mower, the deaths were not necessarily directly caused by a lawn mower.
Scott Harris, M.D., M.P.H.
State Health Officer
