Safe lawn care Published July 19, 2012 Submitted by 341st Missile Wing safety MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Now that the summer months are in full swing, the lawns and backyards of Airmen's houses are thriving in the sun. As the grass grows, mowing becomes a common chore, but before breaking out the mower, Airmen are reminded of some of the dangers associated with cutting the grass. While mowing accidents are not publicized often, the severity of the injuries can be devastating. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that yearly injuries (treated at emergency rooms) from lawn mowers total more than 70,000 annually. The severity of the incidents is explained by Herb Willcutt, the Extension Professor and Agricultural Engineer in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Mississippi State University. "The revolving blade of a lawn mower can throw objects at speeds of 200 miles per hour or the length of a football field in one second," he said. "There is no time to dodge thrown objects. It takes an adult about two-thirds of a second to react to danger and young children may react slower." For more information on lawn mower safety, visit the following links: http://ntsi.com/quick-links/safety-articles/lawn-mower-safety/ http://www.consumerwatch.com/household/lawn-mowers.php http://www.amputee-coalition.org/Limb-Loss-Awareness/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/press-release-lawn-mowers-4-26-10.pdf http://www.assh.org/Public/Safety/Pages/LawnmowerSafety.aspx