Children’s Health Queensland is urging families to keep kids away from ride-on lawn mowers to prevent catastrophic injuries.
Six children under the age of eight needed lower limb amputations at the Queensland Children’s Hospital between July 2021 and April 2022 after ride-on lawn mower incidents.
The Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit estimates more than 600 children were injured by lawn mowers in Queensland between July 2017 and June 2022. Almost half of the injuries occurred in children under five years of age.
Ride-on lawn mowers are often a part of life for families on large properties in outer suburban, regional and rural areas. However, adults must remain vigilant of the risk these vehicles pose, particularly to young children.
Dr Sasaka Bandaranayake, a paediatric rehabilitation specialist with the Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service said there had been an increase in the incidences of lawn mower injuries.
“Tragically these injuries often happen at home when a family member is riding the mower but is unaware the child is nearby, and they accidentally reverse over the child,” Dr Bandaranayake said.
“Children are also at risk of being severely injured from falling or jumping off a ride-on lawn mower while riding with an adult.
“The blades of a ride-on lawn mower can cause catastrophic injury to a child’s limbs, which can require significant surgery, including amputation and ongoing rehabilitation and surgeries as a child grows.”
Other injuries caused by ride-on lawn mowers include burns, lacerations and fractures. Foreign objects like rocks or gravel can also be thrown out at a high speed and cause serious injury to a child’s eye or skin.
To reduce the risk of ride-on lawn mower injuries, Children’s Health Queensland is urging families to teach children “it’s a tool, not a toy”.
“Never carry children on a ride-on lawn mower, even when the blades are switched off,” Dr Bandaranayake said.
“Keep children inside while you are using a ride-on lawn mower and always look behind you when are reversing.”
Media contact: t: +61 7 3068 5111 e: chqnews@health.qld.gov.au