Paediatric injuries incurred by being run over by a riding lawn mower: United States, 2002–2008

Lawn mowers constitute a significant injury threat to children in the United States. Routine surveillance of injuries associated with riding mowers is needed in an effort to aid in the evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention efforts, such as changes in machine design. Because 25% of the injuries resulted in amputations and over half resulted in hospitalization, the potential severity of these injuries warrants further prevention efforts. Prevention efforts that group lawn mowers into a single category may not be highly productive as injuries associated with riding lawn movers vary widely in their cause, age groups affected and severity. These include assurances that children are not present in a yard when riding lawn mower is in use, never allowing children to ride as a passenger on a riding lawn mower, and increased awareness among riding lawn mower operators that children may be present. While passive protection in the form of better design of machines is a mainstay of prevention, continued education of operators, bystanders and child care providers is still needed.