Ron the Yarn Spinner

 

Don’t’ Run with Scissors

 

Growing up in the 1950s I recall there were a number of “Don’ts” parents used to admonish their children – to keep them safe. These were relatively simple and straightforward. Here’s a few.

·       Don’t play with matches.

·       Don’t play with knives.

·       Don’t run out between parked cars.

·       Don’t talk to strangers.

·       Don’t cross at a red light.

·       Don’t eat yellow snow (Okay – just kidding)

·       Don’t Run with Scissors

 

We’ve all heard these age-old warnings at some time in our lives, “Don’t run with scissors, you might get hurt”  however, is a phrase  used by concerned parents or teachers that carries a simple yet profound message about safety.

At its core, the warning against running with scissors is a plea for caution and mindfulness. It’s a reminder that even mundane activities, like running, can become hazardous when combined with potentially dangerous objects. While the risk of injury from holding scissors might seem minimal, the saying emphasizes the importance of being aware of our surroundings and the potential harm from the tools we use, especially power tools that are most unforgiving. I know two men who lost a finger, one using a snow blower and the other a rotary lawn mower. These were men i.e. adults . So, what “don’ts’ do we add to  the list above when we allow children to use these machines? What instructions and supervision should we provide? Lawn mowers are particularly worrisome in the hands of children. They have become one of the most commonly used household tools in society and there are more than 9,000 lawnmower injuries reported in children every year in the United States. (These injuries tend to occur mostly in male children : 80%).

Lawnmower injuries are among the most common causes of traumatic amputations in children. A review of pediatric lawnmower injuries in Pennsylvania between 2002 and 2014,  found that more than 50% of patients required at least one amputation. Several studies show that riding lawnmowers is much more likely to cause severe injury and amputation than push lawnmowers and overall, the incidence of lawnmower injuries in children has not decreased over the past few decades.

Of course, most of the  lawnmower injuries occur in the spring and summer months – and today’s 50 F degree temps have people already talk spring. It will not be too long before it is time to drag out the Lawn Boy, Craftsman, Toro, etc. and gas it up, but if you are going to turn over  the “keys” to Junior ( or Judy) , please be certain your child is sufficiently mature to handle the machine and that he or she is adequately  knowledgeable about the mower to operate it safely. It would probably be a good idea to check on your offspring periodically and supervise the mowing, especially if your property has steep grades. I would hate to be the father who hands over a dangerous machine to his son or  daughter with minimal instruction and supervision and finds the child maimed for the remainder of his/her life.

“Don’t run with scissors” is more than just a catchy phrase. In 2010 there were 253,000 lawnmower injuries in the US.

·       Don’t you think hearing protection might make sense for the individual mowing your lawn?

·      Don’t you think wearing a sturdy pair of closed-toe shoes will protect your feet from flying debris better than sandals, flip-flops or walking barefoot?

·       Don’t add gas into a hot mower.

·       Don’t leave that gas can sitting in the hot sun.

 

The Don’t List is growing.

 

 

BTW: You’re  more likely to be killed by a lawnmower than sharks, alligators, snakes, spiders, cows, and dogs combined.