(HealthDayNews) -- Tens of thousands of Americans are injured each year by power mowers, resulting in millions of dollars in medical, legal, insurance and disability costs.
Lawn mower injuries often result in partial or complete amputation of extremities such as hands, feet, fingers and toes, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says.
The group offers these mower safety tips:
- Never use your fingers to remove grass or debris from lawn mower blades.
- Never let children use lawn mower equipment. Make sure there are no children in the yard while it's being mowed.
- Only the operator of a riding mower should be on the mower. No other people, regardless of age, should be on the riding mower at the same time. When inspecting or repairing a riding mower, make sure that the motor is off.
- When using a mower, always wear protective boots, clothing and glasses.
- Do not tamper with safety release switches.
