Kids need to keep off the grass

29 June 2016 - 09:21 By Wall Street Journal

Getting children to mow the lawn is a common way to teach them responsibility. But a new study found that more than 9000 youngsters are injured in the US every year while mowing the lawn.The researchers compared paediatric mowing injuries during a 10-year period. The number of children who are hurt annually has not changed in more than two decades, they found.More than a third of the injured children in the latest study, published in the American Journal of Surgery, were under 12. There was a spike in injuries recorded at ages three and 16. Most injuries affected hands and fingers, followed by toes, feet, face and eyes.The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends children be at least 12 before operating any mower and 16 to operate a riding or tractor-style mower. ..

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