YARDWORK Experts remind us about mower safety

An expert warns against allowing children to ride on riding mowers.
By ANGELA HEYWOOD BIBLE
RALEIGH NEWS & amp; OBSERVER
With National Lawn and Garden Month upon us, experts remind us to be careful while doing yardwork, especially with lawn mowers.
Each year, about 230,000 people are treated for injuries from various lawn and garden tools, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Many of those accidents involve power mowers.
"They are made to cut," said Ken Giles, a commission spokesman. "And if people come in contact with those cutting blades, there are going to be terrible injuries or even deaths."
In 2001 the commission reported 167 deaths associated with lawn and garden tools, more than half involving riding lawn mowers and garden tractors.
The most important safety tip, Giles said, is to keep children inside while mowing. "Don't let little kids run around," he said. "Don't even allow them on the porch, because they'll run down and try to find you. You will back up or turn a corner and run right over your child. It happens."
Giles also cautioned against letting children ride along on riding mowers because they can easily fall off, and the blades won't stop chopping as long as someone is on the seat.
"I know that grandparents do this," he said. "I know that older siblings do this. But it is hazardous. The kid slips under the housing and gets chewed up, and you're still sitting on the seat."
Safety tips
Before mowing, experts say to walk through the yard and pick up debris -- sticks, rocks, glass, wire, etc. -- that can be thrown by the mower.
Sam Hudson, a master gardener volunteer with the Wake County (N.C.) Extension Service, suggests wearing boots while mowing. The Consumer Product Safety Commission promotes wearing eye protection, heavy gloves, close-fitting clothes and hearing protection.
When cutting grass on a hill with a riding mower, go straight up and down to avoid tipping over, Giles said. But when using a walk-behind mower, mow horizontally.
Since 1978, walk-behind mowers have been equipped with a switch that stops the blade in three seconds after the operator lets go, Giles said. Since the late 1980s, riding mowers have had a seat-activated mechanism to stop the blade. If you have an older mower that doesn't meet those standards, you might want to consider upgrading, he said.