FACTS

The primary hazards related to injuries caused by riding lawn mowers

1. Rollovers: Riding mowers can tip over, especially on slopes or uneven terrain.
2. Blade Contact: Contact with the mower blades can cause severe lacerations, amputations, and other injuries.
3. Ejection of Debris: Riding mowers can eject rocks, sticks, and other debris at high speeds, which can cause injuries to the operator and bystanders.
4. Falls: Operators can fall off the mower, particularly when making sharp turns or navigating rough terrain.
5. Burns: Contact with hot engine parts or exhaust can cause burns.
6. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Indoor Use: Using a riding mower in an enclosed space can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

STATS

USA

• Each year, riding mowers are involved in about 35,000 injuries and hundreds of deaths in the USA.
• Approximately 85,000 lawn mower-related accidents occur each year in the USA.
• There were an estimated 66,341 emergency department visits for injuries related to the use of riding lawn mowers in the U.S., with an average of 11,057 injuries per year.
• Riding mower injuries are eight times more likely to result in hospitalization compared to push mowers.
• Roughly 800 children are run over by riding lawn mowers each year.
• Riding lawn mowers are involved in over 900 injuries per year in the U.S.

CANADA

• A total of 1,161 patients with 1,451 injuries related to lawn mowers were reported across 14 to 16 hospitals in Canada. Notably, 48% of these patients were aged 15 years and younger.
• In Canada, about 73 unintentional lawn mower-related accidents are reported annually, with riding mowers being a significant contributor to these statistics.
• The most common injuries involve extremities, including hands, feet, fingers, and toes. The highest rate of injuries occurs in people aged 50 to 64.
• There were 512 unintentional injury cases related to lawn mowers, translating to 57 cases per 100,000 records in the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program.