Yard Limits Lawn Mowers And String Trimmers Are Dangerous Machines, So Exercise A Bit Of Common Sense When Using Them

Imagine being hit in the hand or foot by a sharp piece of metal traveling 200 mph.

That’s the speed a lawn-mower blade rotates when the engine runs full throttle.

And when the blade strikes human flesh, the result isn’t pretty.

“People should have no illusions,” warns Dr. Rocky Kerr, who works in Sacred Heart Medical Center’s emergency room in Spokane. “If you get a serious hand or foot injury from a lawn mower, don’t expect we’re going to be able to put you back together, because the outcome is not likely to be very good.

“The injuries are full of grass and dirt. The wounds have rough edges, and there are usually associated fractures. There’s often missing tissue, missing digits.

“I’ve seen a lot of cases where there was nothing left to fix, even though the fingers were sort of dangling there,” says Kerr.

Don’t blame the machines. Lawn mowers are designed for convenience and ease of operation. Follow the manufacturer’s basic instructions, and you have little to worry about.

And if you don’t….

“We’ve had patients who reached into the grass chute while the mower blade was still turning,” reports Sacred Heart spokeswoman Marilyn Thordarson.

“We’ve had patients slip or bend over while pushing lawn mowers up steep hills, and the lawn mower rolled down the hill over them.

“We’ve had children hurt because parents left keys in the lawn mower, or left the mower running while they answered the phone.

“And we’ve had a number of cases where objects like rocks or bark were flung out, ending up in a bystander’s eye.

“We’ve even seen recreational riding of lawn mowers down steep embankments at high speeds,” says Thordarson. “In both cases, the patients suffered major crushing injuries, and one died of a head injury. Apparently lawn-mower racing is viewed as a sport in some places.”

Lawn mowers aren’t the only dangerous objects in the tool shed.

“One patient was using a new pair of manual shears and cut the tip of his finger off. He snipped the hand that was holding the rose vine.

“And we’ve seen a variety of injuries from string-trimmers. When those machines really get going, they can throw debris,” Thordarson points out. “Some patients have come in with welts after being hit while standing as far as 20 or 25 feet away. One lady had a blood clot in her leg that was caused by a small rock thrown by a string-trimmer.”

Thordarson could go on, but you get the idea. Lawn mowers, string-trimmers, electric hedgers, pruning shears and ladders are great when used properly - and dangerous when not.

YARD MAINTENANCE SAFETY TIPS Here are some safety suggestions offered by Dr. Rocky Kerr and manufacturers: * Always read the owner’s manual before using a power tool, and operate it according to those instructions. * Become familiar with power controls, so you can stop the tool quickly. * Wear appropriate attire when operating lawn mowers and string-trimmers: long pants, sturdy shoes with good tread, eye protection and, if appropriate, ear protection. Avoid loose clothing, jewelry and other items that might become entangled in power tools. * Examine the area you intend to mow and remove any obstructions, including rocks, sticks, hoses and sprinkler heads. * Only operate power tools in daylight or good artificial light. * Never use power tools after consuming alcohol. * Don’t operate a lawn mower where grass is wet or foot traction is otherwise compromised. Never run when pushing a mower. * Keep bystanders - including pets - a safe distance from power tools. * Never refill a lawn mower’s gasoline tank, unplug a grass chute or perform other maintenance while the machine is running. * After the mower is turned off, beware of hot mufflers and other engine parts that can burn you.