Consumer Reports has tips on staying safe while you keep your lawn in check.
Timothy Strobel didn't realize the risk he'd encounter when he tried to mow his lawn after days of heavy rain. His mower got stuck in the mud near an air conditioning unit.
"I leaned forward to pull the lawn mower out of the grass, and I slammed my forehead and my neck into the actual unit itself," he said.
Dr. Andrew Peretz, who treated Timothy for a severe concussion and a spinal cord injury, says accidents involving lawn mowers are almost always serious.
"We've seen the traumatic injuries, the hand getting stuck in the blades, the foot getting stuck in the blades. Unfortunately those are life-changing events," Dr. Peretz said.
Consumer Reports' mowing expert Peter Sawchuk says blades on today's mowers can exceed 200 miles per hour. And any debris encountered can become a projectile.
To demonstrate, Consumer Reports mowed over golf balls. Sharp pieces flew more than 100 feet. That's why it's so important to keep kids and pets well away from where you're mowing. A survey by Consumer Reports National Research Center reveals all too many people have bad mowing habits.
"More than half of those surveyed wore shorts while mowing, and 14 percent wore flip-flops," Sawchuk said.
Another really bad habit is drinking beer or other alcohol. Eight percent admitted to doing just that.
Consumer Reports also cautions against disabling safety features, such as a handle that automatically shuts off the mower when you let go of it.
Another precaution to avoid slips and falls is not mowing wet grass, something Timothy Strobel learned the hard way.
Consumer Reports says there are other important precautions. Never allow children to ride on lawn tractors. To avoid burns, be sure to let your mower cool down before adding fuel or cleaning it. And before you start to mow, pick up stones, twigs, and anything else you see on the lawn.
All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2008. Consumers Union of U.S. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Consumer Reports is a not for profit organization which accepts no advertising. It has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site. For more information visit consumerreports.org.
