OHIO — Lawnmower-related injuries for children and teens are on the rise at one Ohio hospital. That’s why medical professionals encourage you to be safe this year as you mow your lawn. 

What You Need To Know

  • Lawnmower-related injuries are on the rise for kids and teens 
  • Those injuries have led to severe burns and amputation 

  • It's recommended that only children 12 and older use the push lawnmower and teens 16 and older operate the ride-on mowers 

Nationwide Children’s Hospital officials said they've seen four times more lawnmower-related injuries in April and May this year compared to 2022 and 2023. The patients were mainly teens who were learning how to mow for the first time or younger kids who were either riding on the lawnmower or too close to one that their parents were riding.

“They see their parent out there mowing the lawn and they run after them,” said Tracy Mehan, Nationwide Children’s Hospital health educator. “Unfortunately, the parent doesn't see the child and many back over injuries occur.”

For best practice, medical professionals recommended that only children 12 and older use the push lawnmower and only teens 16 and older operate the ride-on mowers.