How to Avoid Foot Injuries Caused by Power Lawnmowers

An alarming fact: The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (USCPSC) has estimated that more than 35,000 people in our country experience a power mower-related injury annually. Today, Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA is sharing his tips for preventing this kind of injury.

The blades of a power lawnmower spin at about 3,000 turns per minute and produce three times the forceful energy of a .357 gun. However, we still see patients who get injured while mowing the lawn with no shoes on! These injuries vary from amputated toes to lacerations that are disposed to infection and severed tendons.

When this type of injury occurs, treatment is needed immediately to completely clean the wound and antibiotics need to be administered to protect against infection. 

Superficial wounds can be treated as an outpatient procedure, but more serious injuries usually require surgery. If tendons are severed, they can typically be reattached via surgery unless one or more of the toes have been amputated.

If you use a power lawnmower to trim your lawn, you need to take some simple precautions:

• Only mow the lawn when it's completely dry because slipping on rain-soaked wet grass is the most common reason for foot injuries caused by power lawnmowers.
• Never wear sneakers or sandals when mowing - heavy shoes or work boots are recommended. 
• When using a power mower, keep the clip bag firmly attached to prevent injuries from a flying object.
• Be sure that your mower has a release tool on the handle that will automatically turn it off when activated.
• Always mow slowly crosswise on slopes, never up and down.
• Keep children away from the lawnmower at all times.
• Don’t ever pull a running mower backward.
• Treat any injuries immediately.

If you suffer any sort of foot or ankle injury from a lawnmower, contact Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA immediately by calling us at 425-455-0936.