Serious lawnmower injuries are common

More than 60,000 injuries related to lawn mowing are treated by hospital emergency rooms each year. Children under the age of 15 have the most mower accidents of any age group. Most of these injuries are caused by the unsafe use of power lawn mowers rather than a mechanical malfunction.

Only properly trained children, 12-years or older, should be allowed to mow the lawn alone.

Follow these guidelines for your safety and the safety of your children:

• Be sure people – especially children – and pets are out of the yard while mowing.
• Never carry your child while operating a riding mower or lawn tractor.
• Make certain children who mow the lawn understand safety guidelines.
• Read your owner's manual before mowing and never override the mower's safety functions.
• Wear heavy-duty shoes and long pants.
• Do not mow at dusk or at night.
• Make sure the grass is dry.
• Clear the yard of sticks, stones and other debris that may be shot out while mowing.
• Never leave the mower unattended while the engine is running.
• When leaving a mower unattended, disconnect the spark plug wire.
• Never adjust the mower height or clean or remove the grass chute with the engine running.
• Stay clear of a hot engine. Mufflers can reach up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Always disconnect the spark plug wire and let the engine cool 10 minutes before refueling. Gas spilled on a hot engine could cause a flash fire.
• Always mow across an incline with a walk-behind mower.
• Always mow up and down an incline with a riding mower.
• Never smoke when filling the gas tank or fixing or using a lawn mower.
• Never drink alcohol before or during mowing.