Mowing Made Safe

Pofessional Advice on Keeping Kids Safe Around Lawn Mowers

A fresh-cut lawn sets the perfect scene for summer memories. Backyard BBQs, a game of tag, or running through a sprinkler all start with the roar of a lawn mower. Lurking beneath the surface of this common routine lies a danger affecting thousands of children every year. Shriners Children's is raising awareness about the potential risks and necessary safety measures, and empowering parents and communities with the knowledge for prevention.

The statistics are alarming; annually, over 9,000 children find themselves in emergency rooms across the United States due to lawn mower injuries. Little hands, fingers, feet and toes are especially vulnerable – facing cuts, soft tissue injuries, fractures, burns and even amputations.

Darren Rottmann, manager of Pediatric Orthotics and Prosthetic Services (POPS) at Shriners Children's St. Louis, knows the dangers all too well. He became a Shriners Children's patient when he was just 3. Rottmann was in an accident involving a riding lawn mower that required a mid-calf amputation. His experience as a patient inspired him to enter the pediatric orthotics and prosthetics field as a technician, and eventually become the St. Louis POPS director. POPS helps design, fit and manufacture prosthetics and orthotics for children of all ages.

“Because of my accident and the fact that families can clearly see that I not only make prosthetics, but have one myself, I think it helps put their minds at ease. I’m able to relate to the patients, and it helps parents see that an accident doesn’t mean their child’s life is over. It might look different than they imagined, but their children can still live a full life,” said Darren.

Before you rev up that engine to create the perfect lawn stripes, let's go over some simple tips from Darren to keep your little ones safe.

Last But Not Least - In An Emergency, Call 911

Even with safety measures, sometimes accidents happen, and that's why we're here to help. Shriners Children's continues to be a resource for patients. Our specially-trained orthotic and prosthetic specialists take the time to get to know each child. A visit to POPS is about more than measurements and mechanics; it is about sharing hopes and aspirations and providing information that allows the technicians to return to the lab and design the perfect device for each individual patient. Patients like Mollie, a 19-year-old who also experienced a mowing accident when she was 3, became a regular patient at POPS following a foot and ankle amputation.

"Shriners is such a great place and the staff has taught me so much. I'm especially thankful for the staff at POPS. They've been able to provide custom legs for me. One of my legs didn't have a slit in my toe for sandals, and Darren went out of his way to provide that. They've given me and my family a lot of strength and countless resources,"said Mollie.