CHICAGO, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Using a lawn mower can be as routine as bike riding or barbeques during spring and summer. But often, people find themselves in terrifying situations with these seemingly safe household machines.

In fact, 200,000 people – 16,000 of them children – are injured in lawn mower-related accidents each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports. However, lawn mowers don’t “attack” on their own.

Most injuries – such as severed fingers and toes, limb amputations, broken bones, burns and eye injuries – are caused by careless use and can be prevented by following a few simple safety tips.

Lawn Mower Safety Tips:

* Children should be at least 12-years-old before they operate any lawn mower, and at least 16- years-old for a ride-on mower.

* Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.

* Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing – not sandals.

* Young children should be at a safe distance from the area you are mowing.

* Pick up stones, toys and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.

* Always wear eye and hearing protection.

* Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.

* Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary – carefully look for others behind you when you do.

* Start and refuel mowers outdoors – not in a garage. Refuel with the motor turned off and cool.

* Blade settings should be set by an adult only.

* Wait for blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel roads. (As a safety feature, some newer models have a blade/brake clutch that stops the blade each time the operator releases the handle.)

Other Articles Of Interest:

How To Buy Used Garden Equipment

How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blade

Have Two Sharpened Mower Blades

Weed Trimmers: Buy the right kind for you

For more in-depth gardening articles, tutorials, and gardening tips advice for gardeners visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine