LEXINGTON, Ky. — As spring turns to summer and Kentuckians prepare their yards for the mowing season, University of Kentucky healthcare experts are urging families to take simple precautions to prevent serious injuries from lawn mowers, which can cause life-altering trauma in seconds.

Doctors at UK HealthCare issued the safety advisory this week, noting that thousands of Americans are treated in emergency departments annually for lawn mower-related injuries. National surveillance data shows more than 5,000 children receive emergency treatment each year from mower-related accidents, many involving riding mowers.

Patrick Grace, medical director of Chandler Hospital Emergency Department, explained that lawn mower blades spin fast enough to propel rocks, sticks and debris at dangerous velocities. For adults, many injuries occur when they attempt to clear clogged equipment while the engine is running. For children, the risk multiplies when they are simply present in the yard or riding as passengers.

"Lawn mower injuries often happen quickly and unexpectedly, but safety habits dramatically reduce the risk," Grace said in the advisory.

Research shows that lawn mower injuries resulting in hospitalization average $36,987 per patient in treatment costs. The most common injuries are lacerations, fractures and amputations, with hands and feet being the most frequently injured body parts.

UK HealthCare recommends keeping children indoors while mowing and never allowing them to ride as passengers on riding mowers. Children should be at least 12 years old before operating walk-behind mowers and at least 16 years old before using riding equipment.

For adults, the health system advises wearing sturdy, closed-toe shoes, clearing the yard of debris before mowing, and using eye protection against flying objects. Most critically, operators should never reach into a mower with the engine running and should disconnect the spark plug before clearing clogs or performing maintenance.

When using riding mowers, operators should mow up and down slopes rather than across inclines to prevent rollovers. If an injury occurs, experts emphasize seeking immediate medical care, even for wounds that appear minor, as lawn mower injuries carry a high infection risk and often require surgical intervention.