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 Photo provided: Terrance Cole, 37, of Van Wert, in the white shirt, is helped to shore after being pulled from Grand Lake St. Marys Friday afternoon. By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
CELINA — Two area men were pulled from the cold waters of Grand Lake St. Marys Friday afternoon. |
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Officials stress mowing safety |
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Monday, 06 July 2009 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Each year, more than 68,000 people are injured by power mowers and require treatment in emergency rooms.
Those numbers may be low locally, but as trauma season is in full swing, the Division of Emergency Medical Services is partnering with Safe Kids Ohio to offer safety tips for mowing this summer. The danger is especially important for children to avoid as power mowers are considered one of the most dangerous tools around the home by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
"Children move very quickly, and you can't always hear them if the mower is running, or you are listening to the radio," said Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Henry Guzman. "While summer is a great time for fun and relaxing activities, it also means paying more attention to your surroundings to ensure everyone is safe."
Locally, the Wapakoneta Rescue Squad handles approximately six calls of injuries from lawn mowers each year.
“It’s usually nothing medically serious or life threatening,” said firefighter Doug Kill.
But what may not be a major situation to them, may be to the person it is happening to, such as losing part of a finger or hand, something the local rescue squad has handled that was caused by a mower.
He said some of the biggest problems are caused by people cut or burned while trying to get debris out of lawn mowers not shut off or allowed to cool enough first.
Thirteen thousand people are injured every year by riding lawn mowers, Kill said.
Their blades can rotate at 3,000 revolutions per minute, generate a force three times more than a 357 Magnum and can propel a 1-pound object at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour, according to the Division of Emergency Medical Services.
National statistics show that the most common lawn mower accidents involve children being run over or flying debris causing penetrating and life-threatening injuries.
EMS Division Executive Director Richard Rucker said lawn mower safety is important as injuries are 100 percent preventable.
Kill, who is largely responsible for educational efforts by the department, said of those injured, 20 percent are injured by people putting their hand into the blade, 14 percent by people slipping, sliding or overturning the mower, and 8 percent are hurt by objects thrown from mowers.
He advised those on riding lawn mowers to know what’s behind them when backing up, especially looking for small children and other hazards, going through the yard and picking up debris before mowing to prevent it from being thrown, not overriding safety features, shutting off the mower and letting it cool down before removing a clog, wearing appropriate clothing and shoes — no flip flops, and not operating a mower while impaired.
In addition, the Division of EMS and Safe Kids Ohio recommend keeping children and pets inside while operating a lawn mower, reading the operator's manual and learning all the safety features of the mower, never leaving a mower running unattended, not allowing children to play on or around a mower when in use or in storage, not allowing anyone younger than 12 to operate a walk-behind mower and no one younger than 16 to operate a power mower, and not allowing extra riders.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 September 2009 )
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