SAFETY Mower-related injuries are preventable

Half of hand injuries result in surgery by a specialist, a Boardman doctor says.
By ZACH STIPE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
Hands, fingers, toes and children should be on your mind when mowing the lawn, doctors say.
Mowing the lawn is a chore and also is the first job for many young people across the United States. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that more than 230,500 people -- about 20,000 of them children under 19 -- were treated for lawn mower-related injuries in 2004.
The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons have teamed up to educate parents, adults and children on lawn mower safety during National Safety Month, June.
Injuries
Many children view lawn mowers as toys, resulting in thousands of debilitating injuries every year, said Dr. L. Scott Levin, the ASRM president.
These injuries include deep cuts, loss of appendages, limb amputations, broken and dislocated bones, burns and eye injuries, all of which are preventable, he added.
Patients often endure painful reconstructive operations to restore form and function, he said.
Dr. Albert Aiad-Toss, a doctor at St. Elizabeth Health Center's Boardman Campus emergency center, has seen numerous injuries caused by lawn mowers.
"We see them a lot in the ER," Dr. Aiad-Toss said. "The peak is right now in the late spring and early summer."
Dr. Aiad-Toss has witnessed severe toe, hand and finger injuries, as well as minor injuries involving flying debris.
Hand wounds are the most common serious injuries, he added.
Dr. Aiad-Toss mentioned forgetting to turn off the motor when adjusting blades as a major cause of hand injuries.
Not always equipped
Emergency rooms also aren't always equipped to provide proper care for these types of injuries. "Half of hand injuries require surgery by a hand specialist," he said.
The worst injury the doctor ever saw was an amputation of a person's big toe from a lawn mower accident two years ago.
He recommends never wearing sandals when mowing the lawn. The footwear should be closed-toe shoes, he said.
He also stressed those mowing must watch out for young children and be aware of where they are.
Children should be inside during mowing to avoid flying debris, and parents should never allow a child to sit atop ride-on mower, Dr. Aiad-Toss said.
"The sad thing is that so many of these tragic injuries are avoidable," said Dr. Eileen M. Ouellette, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "A few simple precautions can protect thousands of children."