Every year, million of Americans look forward to the time they will spend on their gardens and yards. A lot of this involves using a lawn mower. Unfortunately, many people suffer from injuries as a result of this activity. There are places to go for effective treatment but there are also things you can do to prevent them from happening in the first place.
This week, the local ABC station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, KSFY, is reporting on a girl in that town. The four year old is said to be in good condition after losing several toes to such an accident. The station is reporting that she lost at least two toes in the incident. With effective treatment, she should make a full recovery but it is work it to revisit some safety tips for using lawn mowers.
Rick Swanson from Lawn andamp; Garden as well as Sporting Goods for Nyberg’s Ace recommends that homeowners make sure they keep their lawn mowers in good shape. The oil should be changed as required by the manufacturer. It is also a good idea to have fresh gas in your lawn mower to make sure it can start up easily and quickly.
It should go without saying that you should be careful with your fingers and toes when using a lawn mower. Your lawn mower has a blade that is just inside of the deck so you do not need to go too far and find yourself in trouble.
The injuries that happen when you have an accident are traumatic. When effective treatment is available, recovery is very possible but it may mean a lot of surgery. These are not like other lacerations. When the injuries happen to children, there will be the need for more extensive operations. A lot of this depends on how much damage was done and what the blood flow is.
The emotional and psychological damage can be substantial. David Axtman, a physician assistant at Quick Health Urgent Care explains it this way, “”In this case with limbs, typically if you lose a toe or part of your foot, it changes the way you walk and limits the things that you can do.”
It is much too easy to injure children and pets when mowing a lawn. It is easy for them to be underfoot and be hurt before the person doing the mowing even knows it. It is therefore important for people to pay attention to their kids and animals. They are both active outside.
When it comes to the little girl who was injured and taken to the emergency room, it happened seemingly out of the blue. One neighbor, Dawn Tribitt, said that it was an accident that happened very quickly.
Experts recommend cleaning up the yard before you mow it. This can limit the number of these types of accidents. They note that sticks and rocks can be projectiles, which can cause serious injuries to by standers and the person working on the lawn. It is also important to wear the right kind of clothing. It is advisable to wear longer pants and shoes that are closed toed.
The god news is that it is possible to prevent needing emergency care when you mow your lawn. Pay close attention to what is happening around you. Put the pets in the house before you start your mowing. Educate your children about the dangers that can come up when you mow a lawn.
Simple safety tips and by paying close attention can be you do not need to receive effective treatment for any mowing related injuries. These accidents can have life altering or even fatalities. This tips will keep you and your family safe throughout the mowing season.
