At age eight, Kenleigh Merritt has undergone eight surgeries to repair leg injuries she suffered in a lawn mower accident two years ago. In a frightening instant, Kenleigh slipped and fell underneath a riding mower as the grass at her suburban home was being cut. "It scared me so much," she said later. "My life was frozen fear."

Unfortunately, such accidents occur all too frequently: 77,000 people are rushed to the emergency room each year from accidents involving lawn mowers. At least 10 percent of those are children 18 and under, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Lawn mower injuries include deep cuts, loss of fingers and toes, broken and dislocated bones, burns, and eye and other injuries. Some injuries are very serious. Both users of mowers and those who are nearby can be hurt. (Learn more about keeping babies and kids safe on the deck, porch, or yard.)

See our safe mowing tips in the full post on our Safety blog.