Serious lawnmower warning for parents as stark danger for children highlighted

While accidents on ride-on mowers can affect all ages, toddlers are particularly at risk, according to CHI

At least two children present themselves each season with life-threatening injuries from ride-on lawnmowers, according to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI).

CHI is now urging parents to never, ever allow children on or near ride-on lawnmowers due to the risk of accidents that can lead to life-threatening injuries including amputations of upper and lower limbs.

While accidents on ride-on mowers can affect all ages, toddlers are particularly at risk, according to CHI.

READ MORE – Monty Don warns Irish gardeners about lawn mower mistake that could ruin grass for summer months

“Children should be nowhere near ride-on lawnmower machinery or activity, even if they are supervised by an adult,” warns Catherine de Blacam, Consultant Plastic Surgeon in CHI at Crumlin.

“Adults should never, ever allow a child to be a passenger or to sit on their knees on a ride-on lawnmower.

“The accidents that we see every year happen when a child is riding on with a parent and falls off or when they are following the lawnmower and slip under it.

“The child then gets caught in the moving blades and, as you can imagine, these injuries are devastating and potentially life-threatening.”

The only safe way to mow the lawn when young children are present is to have another adult watch them indoors and far from the very real danger.

In 2015, Niamh Dufficy’s then six-year-old son Conor had his leg amputated through the knee after he was involved in an accident involving a ride-on lawnmower.

Devastatingly, Conor fell under a ride-on lawnmower and lost his left leg.

“I got a call to say that Conor had an accident and they didn’t know if he was going to make it,” Niamh told RTE 2FM’s Tubridy Show in 2015.

The child was airlifted to Cork University Hospital, where his severe injuries meant his lower leg had to be amputated.

Although Niamh admitted that the accident was “every parent’s worst nightmare” she said she and her husband Ciaran were relieved that Conor had made it through the ordeal.

“My initial reaction was that I was so relieved that Conor was alive. We were told that Conor’s left leg would be amputated through the knee, his foot had been amputated and his leg couldn’t be saved.

“It was every parent’s worst nightmare. You always think that these things happen to other people you never think they will happen to you.

“We were heartbroken. We were devastated but we had a little boy who was alive and we had to be strong and positive for him.

“After the accident Conor was on a huge amount of medication and he was in shock. Then we had to deal with the trauma of trying to get him out of a bed and into a wheelchair.”

In warning parents, CHI said life-changing injury from a lawnmower blade only takes a second and children should not operate lawnmowers. CHI also says no riders other than the operator should be allowed on a riding mower and children should never be outside when a lawnmower is in use.

CHI also warns that children who have been given a ride on a mower in the past may run into the area unexpectedly and if operating a riding mower in reverse, always look for children behind the mower.

“Riding mowers should be driven up and down slopes to avoid the mower tipping over and a running lawnmower should not be left unattended,” CHI said.