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Show Power Mowers Pose Dangerous Problems The power lawn mower hadn't actually come into vogue in 1944 so an accident involving one was unusual enough to make news. , One of the first power mower accidents of record involved an Army private who came home late in World War II to recuperate recuper-ate from wounds in three invasions inva-sions and was wounded by a spoon! The spoon, hurled by a power lawn mower in his front lawn penetrated the soldier's leg and had to be removed by an operation. Since then power lawn mowers have increased in popularity. The number of mower mishaps have increased in direct proportion. propor-tion. While no national figures are available on the power mower accident problem, the Ntaional Safety Council said a study in Georgia showed that: 1. One injury in seven results in some permanent disability. 2. Toes and feet are most often injured. 3. Seven out of 10 persons injured in-jured in mower mishaps come in direct contact with the mower. The other three are hurt by objects ob-jects thrown by the mower. While the first power mower mishap may have been unusual enough to be news such accidents today are anything but out-of-the ordinary. In fact, almost every day news-! news-! papers carry accounts of mower accidents, among them such serious ones as these: A Florida woman was killed by a blade that sailed 50 feet from a power mower through a window pane before striking her. A little girl was killed when her jugular vein was severed by a piece of metal hurled by a power mower. But, according to the National Safety Council, power lawn mowers are no more dangerous than any other gadget used in the yard if a few basic rules are observed. For example: 1. Unless you have good artificial arti-ficial light, mow only during the daylight. 2. Don't use an electric mower when the grass is wet and slippery. slip-pery. 3. Never allow youngsters or pets near a power mower. Nor should youngsters be allowed to operate one. 4. When starting the engine, stand with your feet planted in a safe spot. Always be sure of your footing and balance particularly par-ticularly when mowing on an incline. in-cline. On hills and banks, cut sideways, not up and down. 5. Don't refuel the mower if it's running or still hot from use. Always refuel out of doors. Don't forget, either, to store the gasoline in an approved container. con-tainer. 6. Shut off the mower before moving it from one level to another, an-other, or when you want to work on its underside. Never leave the mower unattended if it's still running. 7. Make sure the area to be mowed is free of sticks, stones, wire or ohter obstacles. 8. Know how to disengage the clutch and stop the engine. "Power lawn mowers are a great time saver as any man of the house will tell you, but they brought with them new hazards users aren't fully equipped to guard against," the Council says. Don't spell words you don't wont your children to hear. They are too smart nowadays. If you want to keep something secret, pretend you are talking directly to them. |
