FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2025

CONTACT:
Scott Heiberger
Heiberger.scott@marshfieldresearch.org
715-207-1604                          

Melissa Ploeckelman
Ploeckelman.melissa@marshfieldresearch.org
715-240-0900

 

Youth lawn mowing safety webinar: May 16

Mowing grass is a common chore for young people, but it involves serious hazards. Nearly 10,000 child/youth lawn mower injuries occur in the United States annually, with approximately 5 percent resulting in amputation.

Learn how to assess, train and supervise youth to do the job safely by attending a lawn mowing safety webinar, May 16 at 11 a.m. (Central Time). The webinar is being hosted by the Childhood Agricultural Safety Network (CASN), facilitated by the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.

Registration is free: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/g7S9EQkIQnOCBc2wRoYJig

Webinar speakers include:

  • Diane Rohlman, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Faculty in the College of Public Health and a professor in the Department of Occupational & Environmental Health at the University of Iowa. Dr. Rohlman directs the Healthier Workforce Center of The Midwest, as well as the Agricultural Safety and Health Training Program. Her research focuses on the health effects of occupational and environmental exposures, with emphasis on the increased workplace risks faced by younger employees. 
  • Charles Jennissen, M.D., a pediatric emergency medicine specialist and Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Dr. Jennissen has helped establish, sustain, study and grow a wide range of successful injury prevention programs, including lawnmower safety and other activities associated with rural living. Jennissen has dedicated much of his medical career to increasing public awareness of injury prevention.

Despite improvements in engineering and safety features, pediatric lawn mower-related injury rates have remained constant over the past 40 years. Injuries include lacerations, burns and eye injuries. On farms, mowing is often the first job involving machinery that is assigned to young people.

“Injuries associated with mowers can happen in an instant, so it is important to be safety prepared,” said Andrea Swenson, Ph.D., director of the National Children’s Center.

The webinar will kick off the Childhood Agricultural Safety Network 2025 Youth Lawnmower Safety Campaign. Find resources associated with this and other CASN campaigns (including ATVs and tractors) at https://cultivatesafety.org/campaigns/  CASN, celebrating 25 years dedicated to children and youth growing up safely on farms and ranches, is a coalition of nearly 250 individuals and organizations.

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