1 in 5 Americans have suffered lawn care accidents, survey finds

Tinatin // Shutterstock Yard chores might seem mundane, but unsafe practices can lead to injury, illness, or even death. Over the past decade, 3.2 million U.S. residents have been injured while working on their lawns or in their gardens. Lawn mower accidents cost patients an average of $37,000 in medical treatment. LawnStarter surveyed over 1,000 U.S. homeowners about their history, habits, and concerns related to lawn care accidents and injuries.  See the results below, including demographic insights such as age, education, and income.  Behind the Survey LawnStarter LawnStarter collected survey responses from a random sample of 1,009 U.S. adults aged 18 or older via Alchemer and Cint between June 19 and June 20, 2024.  Staying Safe Outside An average of 875 people visit the emergency room every day to treat yard work injuries and around 10,000 adolescent injuries from mowing are reported each year. Lawn mowing might look fun to young ones, but in the U.S., mowers are the leading cause of major limb loss for kids aged 10 and under. Experts recommend waiting until your child is 12 to allow them to operate a push mower and 16 to drive a riding lawn mower. Additionally, last July was the hottest month on record, and heat-related cardiovascular deaths are expected to triple by 2050.  Accidents happen from time to time and are mostly unpredictable, but prioritizing safety and being informed can prevent them from getting out of hand.  Explore tips and guides below to learn more about safe lawn maintenance practices. Use the OSHA Heat Safety app to see if it’s too hot to handle outdoor chores. Know the signs of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  Follow these lawn mower safety tips. Take care to protect kids and pets from outdoor hazards. Stretch and stay hydrated for safe gardening.  Keep an eye out for pedestrians and vehicles when working alongside the road.  Before picking up the ax or chainsaw, know how to cut down a tree safely. Carefully follow product directions when using chemicals or spraying for weeds. This story was produced by LawnStarter and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.