Journal article
Risk Factors for Pediatric Bystander-Related Riding Lawnmower Injuries: A Qualitative Study
Journal of agromedicine, Vol.30(3), pp.441-446
07/03/2025
DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2024.2442385
PMID: 39680395
Abstract
Riding lawnmowers are the most frequent cause of major limb amputation in children in the United States. Our study objective was to investigate the circumstances of child bystander-related riding lawnmower injuries and identify behaviors leading to these events. Followers/members of lawnmower injury-related Facebook pages, who were aware of children that had suffered a lawnmower injury, were invited to complete a survey. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions was performed. Of 140 injured children, 97 (69%) were bystanders. Major themes identified that contributed to the bystander-related injury event included: supervision issues (40%), child not perceiving danger (40%), child allowed to be in vicinity of mower (23%), and mower-related issues (58%), especially mowing in reverse. The contributing risk factors identified for child bystander-related riding lawnmower injuries reinforce many safety directives including close supervision of children by someone other than the operator, and not allowing children outside when mowing is being performed. Many children injured were approaching the mower to get rides. Mower rides likely desensitize children to the inherent dangers and lead them to seek rides when mowers are being used. Mower design preventing blade operation in reverse and not giving children rides may be critical in decreasing bystander-related riding lawnmower injuries.Riding lawnmowers are the most frequent cause of major limb amputation in children in the United States. Our study objective was to investigate the circumstances of child bystander-related riding lawnmower injuries and identify behaviors leading to these events. Followers/members of lawnmower injury-related Facebook pages, who were aware of children that had suffered a lawnmower injury, were invited to complete a survey. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions was performed. Of 140 injured children, 97 (69%) were bystanders. Major themes identified that contributed to the bystander-related injury event included: supervision issues (40%), child not perceiving danger (40%), child allowed to be in vicinity of mower (23%), and mower-related issues (58%), especially mowing in reverse. The contributing risk factors identified for child bystander-related riding lawnmower injuries reinforce many safety directives including close supervision of children by someone other than the operator, and not allowing children outside when mowing is being performed. Many children injured were approaching the mower to get rides. Mower rides likely desensitize children to the inherent dangers and lead them to seek rides when mowers are being used. Mower design preventing blade operation in reverse and not giving children rides may be critical in decreasing bystander-related riding lawnmower injuries.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Risk Factors for Pediatric Bystander-Related Riding Lawnmower Injuries: A Qualitative Study
- Creators
- Charles A Jennissen - University of IowaMikayla S GibsonMaia E Bibbs - University of IowaBriah M DrewryTreyton D Krupp - University of IowaGerene M Denning - University of Iowa, Emergency MedicinePam J Hoogerwerf - University of Iowa Health Care
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of agromedicine, Vol.30(3), pp.441-446
- DOI
- 10.1080/1059924X.2024.2442385
- PMID
- 39680395
- NLM abbreviation
- J Agromedicine
- ISSN
- 1545-0813
- eISSN
- 1545-0813
- Publisher
- TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC; PHILADELPHIA
- Grant note
- University of IowaUniversity of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's HospitalInjury Prevention Program
We would like to acknowledge and thank John Brooks and the leadership at Tate's Army, a 501c non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, support and advocate for lawn mower and machinery safety awareness and prevention, as well as to provide direct financial assistance to affected families (https://tatesarmy.org/) for their assistance in the development and distribution of the study's survey. We also want to thank the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital for its support of the Injury Prevention Program.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 12/16/2024
- Date published
- 07/03/2025
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Emergency Medicine; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984758187802771
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