Safe mowing tips

The center for Childhood Safety offers these tips for safe lawn mowing:

• Keep children and pets out of the yard while mowing.

• Do a walk-through of the area before you begin mowing. Clear the area of large sticks or other debris.

• Wear clothing that offers some protection, like sturdy shoes with non-slip soles to provide good traction. Wear eye protection, like glasses, sunglasses, or goggles, while mowing.

• Read the operating guide for your mower. Make sure you understand all of its safety features prior to use. Make sure your new power mower has a "deadman" control that stops the mower if you let go of the handle. Do not disable this or other safety features of your mower.

• Do not cut the lawn when it's raining, lightning, or when the grass is slippery.

• Don't mow at night, even if your riding mower has lights.

• Adolescents should be at least 12 years of age before they operate lawn-mowing equipment. Discuss lawn mower safety with all of your children.

• Never allow young children to ride along on a riding mower.

• Caution adolescents who are operating lawn-mowing equipment to avoid carelessly placing hands near power blades. Do not clean the grass exit with your hands.

• Do not push a lawn mower onto the pavement. The lawn keeps objects from being hurled at a high speed. On the pavement, there is no such protection.

• Make sure your mower is in good working condition at all times.

• Do not operate a mower when under the influence of alcohol or other drugs that impair judgment.