Lawn mowing is a necessary part of any family’s summer, but without the proper care, it can be a dangerous or even fatal part.

There are a number of simple ways to keep yourself and others safe through the summer, starting before you turn the key or start the engine.

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute advises residents to only operate a lawn mower after becoming familiar with the machine and how to operate it. That may involve reading the operator’s manual and should involve how to stop the machine quickly, if needed. When mowing the lawn, lawn mower operators should make sure they are dressed for the occasion, including proper shoes and close-fitting clothing.

Eyes and ears

Eye or hearing protection may also be needed. Dixie Auto Parts co-owner Bill Keyes said it’s not just lawn mowers that might require protection, either.

“Chain saws and all the other things you run can cause hearing damage,” Keyes said.

When operating a lawn mower, beware of items in the yard that can become what Keyes referred to as “yard missiles.”

“That’s any kind of thing that could turn into a projectile if you hit it with a blade,” Keyes said.

Those items can include toys, sprinklers, stones and branches. Once struck, they can fly in almost any direction, striking cars, windows, homes and even people. Operating a lawn mower with blades engaged over gravel poses a similar risk.

Danger on a hill

Exercise additional caution when operating a lawn mower on a hill. Keyes said most mowers will tip sideways instead of end over end. On a hill, that could mean a lawn mower rolling on top of the operator.

Keyes also advised against pulling the lawn mower back toward oneself, as the operator could slip and accidentally pull the mower on top of him.

Limestone County Coroner Mike West said there were several riders injured last year, though most of the injuries he’s witnessed involved people whose hands or feet were caught in the mower’s blades. He also said he has seen a few fatalities in his time.

“Last fatality was three or four years ago,” West said. “They got on a hill, flipped over and were killed. About six years ago, another was mowing by a pond and the tractor fell over in the pond on top of him.”

A Cherokee County man recently died when the lawn mower on which he was traveling ended up on top of him in a culvert. West said there have been no lawn mower-related fatalities in Limestone County this year.

Kid safety

The safety tips don’t end when the mowing is finished, either. Keyes said to make sure the keys are always removed from the ignition when the lawn mower isn’t being used, because children may not understand the risks of play.

“Always take the key out of your lawn mower because it looks like a toy to small kids,” he said. “I see it all the time. When they come to the store, that’s the first thing they do is run to climb on them and play.”

OPEI suggested going a step further by never allowing children to ride on a mower, even with the cutting blades turned off. According to the institute, children may not understand the difference between a lawn mower with blades on and a lawn mower with blades off. As such, they may run out into the yard when the machine is being operated and end up seriously injured.

Finally, when maintaining a lawn mower, make sure to remove a spark plug before changing the blades on a lawn mower. Keep keys, fuel and lawn mower parts out of the reach of children who could end up hurt while playing nearby.

For more information on safe operation and maintenance of lawn mowers, refer to the mower’s operation manual.