According to research from the American Journal of Emergency medicine, lawn mower injuries send 13 kids to the hospital every day in the U.S. The majority of these cases involve serious foot injuries, including cuts, severed tendons, broken bones and even loss of toenails and/or toes.
If you want to avoid the pain and danger associated with lawn-mower foot injuries, follow these 6 safety tips every time you head out to cut the grass:
- Keep kids away whenever you’re mowing (over 9000 kids are seen each year in American ERs for lawnmower injuries.)
- Clear the lawn of all stones, sticks and toys before getting started to minimize the risk of flying-object injuries.
- Wear closed-toed shoes every time you mow. The more material between you and the mower’s blades, the better.
- Only mow when the grass is dry: not only can wet grass dull your blades, it can also make you more likely to slip and encounter the mower’s sharp blades while they are in motion.
- When mowing on a hill, use a side-to-side pattern instead of an up-and-down, to avoid slipping related accidents.
- Keep a clip-bag on your mower to catch flying objects that may come out the sides and cause injury.
When lawnmower foot injuries do occur, they are often grisly and dirty, and may cause panic. While your first instinct may be to head straight to the emergency room, if the injury you have suffered affects your toes, feet or ankles, you will be better served by visiting your Houston podiatrist. Not only do podiatrists like Dr. Andrew Schneider have expertise in treating injuries to the region, they also typically have shorter wait times than a hospital emergency room, meaning your injury will receive the fastest attention possible.
