Hospital staff issue lawnmower caution
A leading surgeon is encouraging people to take care while mowing their lawns this summer.
Jeremy Yarrow, who is a consultant surgeon Morriston Hospital’s renowned Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, has spoken out after figures revealed there are over 6,000 lawnmower related accidents across the UK each year.
In particular, Mr Yarrow warns parents and guardians to be mindful of keeping children safe while lawns are cut.
He said: “We all need to be careful when using or being around these powerful machines.
“In the UK over 6000 are hurt every year by lawnmowers, either hand-pushed or ride-ons.
“We regularly see patients coming in with injuries as a result of gardening activities and some of the worst I have seen are from ride-ons.
“Those injured include adults and children.
“Some of the injuries including amputations and others require complex limb salvage operations to reconstruct lost skin, tendon and bone. Many are left with scars and symptoms that will last a life time.
“It is always best not to have children around when cutting the grass and to wear appropriate clothing and footwear.”
A few years ago, Swansea Bay staff treated a then eight-year-old girl from Carmarthenshire who injured her leg so severely following a collision with a lawnmower at the family home it needed amputation below the knee.
Fortunately, thanks to Morriston Hospital’s Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre (ALAC), she was able to have a prosthetic lower leg fitted, which allowed her to get back to the things she loved, such as dancing with her friends.
Peter McCarthy Head of Service for ALAC added his call for people to take care.
He said: “Each summer, we sadly see the consequences of lawnmower accidents that result in life-changing injuries – including traumatic amputations.
“Many of these incidents involve ride-on mowers and could have been prevented with greater caution.
“We’d like to remind the public to never allow children to be near operating mowers or to ride as passengers on ride-on models.
“When using these machines you should wear proper footwear – never mow barefoot or in sandals.
“And avoid mowing in poor conditions such as wet grass, slopes, or low visibility.
“Mowers are powerful machines, and even a moment’s distraction can lead to permanent loss of limb. We urge everyone to take the time to mow safely – especially around children.”
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