Like many homeowners, you may use a lawnmower and/or snowblower to help maintain your property. Lawnmowers and snowblowers are powerful tools, but they can also be very dangerous.

Each year, many thousands of people suffer deep cuts, loss of fingers and toes, crushed and broken bones, joint injuries, burns, infections, other injuries, and even death due to improper or careless use of lawnmowers and snowblowers. Injuries happen to people from all age groups, mostly adults between the ages of 25 and 64 years.

Most lawnmower and snowblower injuries are preventable if you concentrate on your task and use common sense. Some basic tips:

• Read the instruction manual before using a lawnmower or snowblower.
• Be sober (i.e., don't drink).
• Do not remove safety devices, shields or guards on switches, and keep hands and feet away from moving parts.
• Stay away from the engine cowling, as it can become very hot and burn unprotected flesh.
• Add fuel before starting the engine, not when it is running or hot.
• Use a stick or broom handle (not your hands or feet) to remove debris in lawnmowers or snowblowers.
• Never let children operate lawnmowers or snowblowers. Keep kids 15 years of age and younger away when lawnmowers and snowblowers are in use.
• Do not leave a lawnmower or snowblower unattended when it is running. If you must walk away from the machine, shut off the engine.

• Hospitals and emergency rooms treated 70,640 injuries related to power lawnmowers, hand mowers and riding power mowers in 1999.
• Lawnmower injuries most often involve the hand, fingers, wrist, foot, ankle or toes.
• Lawnmower injuries account for a large percentage of accidental partial or complete amputations.

• Keep lawnmowers in good working order with sharp blades.
• Remove stones, toys and other objects from the lawn before you start mowing.
• Wear protective gloves, goggles, boots and long pants when you use lawnmowers. Never mow barefoot or in sandals.
• Never let passengers of any age join you on a riding mower.
• Use caution when mowing hills and slopes. Mow across with a push mower; mow up and down with a riding mower. Do not cut wet grass.
• Be sure the motor is off before inspecting or repairing lawn mower equipment.

• Hospitals and emergency rooms treated 3,546 injuries related to snow throwers and snowblowers in 1999.
• Two-thirds of snowblower injuries involve fingers. Among consumer products, snowblowers are a leading cause of finger amputations.
• Most injuries happen when you try to clear the auger/collector or discharge chute with your hands.

• If your snowblower becomes jammed, turn it off, disengage clutch and wait more than 5 seconds for blades to stop rotating.
• Beware of the brief recoil of motor and blades that occurs after the machine has been turned off.

Source: National Electronic Injury Surveillance Systems of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) data.