Get Your Mow On—Safely

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At Texas Foot Specialists, we know that even getting out to do yard work is looking pretty appealing after COVID lockdown! We want to pass on some important safety reminders to our patients about using power mowers. Each year over 80,000 adults and children land in the emergency room with injuries caused by a power mower. With blades that whirl over 3,000 rotations a minute and produce three times the kinetic energy of a .357 handgun, it’s essential to follow safe mowing guidelines.

  • Get your mower checked annually to make sure it is functioning properly. If you are investigating a problem with your mower, remember that even if it’s not running, the blades are very sharp. If you get even a minor cut, be sure to clean it immediately and treat it with antibiotic ointment and a bandage.

  • If you’re buying a new mower, be sure the one you choose has safety features that cause the mower to turn off if your hands leave the handle.

  • Don’t mow a wet lawn. Slippery grass is the top cause of losing control of a lawnmower.

  • Keep children safe. Establish clear rules with little ones for their protection. Young children should stay inside during mowing sessions. For those who are a little older, establish a clear boundary they should not pass while you are mowing and teach them not to try to come out to the mower or get his or her attention.

  • Mow slopes carefully back and forth, not up and down.

  • Never pull a running mower backward.

  • Pick up debris from your lawn before mowing and keep the clip bag on to prevent debris from flying out and hurting someone nearby.

  • Be sure to store your mower in a place that is out of the way and inaccessible to children. Mowers stay very hot for quite a while after they are turned off. Many injuries to children are burns caused by touching a hot mower. Curious fingers can also get injured touching the wrong part of a mower, even if it hasn’t been run.

Summer brings its own unique set of potential injuries to your feet and ankles. If you get hurt, contact our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum by calling our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600) or Houston (713-664-6677) offices for a phone or in-person consultation.