Safety office offers lawn-care safety tips

  • Published
  • By Erin Lewis
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan --  Lawn and gardening equipment is often found in and around residential homes. However, people sometimes forget these tools, whether mechanical or not, can be dangerous, especially if folks use them incorrectly.

Lawn care essentials can cause serious injury to individuals. Each year approximately 75,000 people visit the emergency room due to lawnmower injuries, according to the National Agency Safety Database. These injuries range from minor cuts and bruises to amputations to death, NASD statistics show.

The 22nd Air Refueling Wing Safety office staff would like people to consider these simple safety reminders before doing yard work:

· Wear safety toe shoes, long pants, goggles, and gloves when doing yard work.
· Inspect all lawn and gardening equipment prior to use.
· People should inspect their lawns and remove debris prior to mowing.
· Use insecticides and fertilizers as directed on the label. Do not mix insecticides.
· Let wet lawns dry before mowing.
· Unclog lawnmower chutes with a stick not a hand, and be sure to disconnect the spark plug first.