Lawn mowers are tools, not toys and children shouldn’t ride, operate or play near them. That’s the advice from a War Amps spokesperson who lost her right arm at the elbow and part of her left hand when she was 2 years old.
Denise Swedlo ran out to get on the riding lawnmower with her grandpa, but tripped behind the mower. He didn’t see her and he backed up. Swedlo says all it takes is a second for lives to be changed forever.

She also gives the example of a teen who was doing his mowing chores and ran over his own foot. The War Amps is urging everyone to be safe this summer and keep children away when mowing the lawn.

Swedlo says she gets nervous when she is driving in a neighbourhood and sees children playing in the same yard as someone who is mowing the lawn and wants to get out and tell them to put the children in the house or in the backyard. The War Amps has been highlighting this safety message for years, but Swedlo says there are still accidents happening every year.