Seasonal Safety 

Lawn Mowers

More than 9,000 children visit an emergency room each year for a lawn mower related injury. When using a lawn mower it is important to practice safe habits to prevent an unintentional injury. Remember, a lawn mower is not a toy, not for rides, and always keep kids inside while they are in use!

1. Children must be 12 years old to operate a push mower and 16 years old to operate a riding lawn mower. It is important to teach your child how to safely use a lawn mower. Spend time showing them how to operate the piece of equipment properly and safely. Teach them to turn off the lawn mower and make sure the blades stop completely before removing any debris. Supervise their work until you are sure they can manage the task alone.

2. Teach children that a lawn mower is not a toy, it is a dangerous piece of equipment. Lawn mowers can be an attractive piece of equipment for children. It is important you explain to children that they should never touch, play, or go near the equipment, even when they are off and the blades are not engaged. 

3. Never let anyone, including a child, ride as a passenger on a riding mower. Passengers, including children, can easily fall off a lawn mower when riding, especially when turning on uneven ground. Having a passenger or a child on your lap while using a lawn mower could interfere with your ability to operate the machine safely. Lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers are designed for one person. Do not allow children to ride in the trailer of a riding lawn mower or pull children on their wheeled toys behind a riding lawn mower.

4. Watch for kids! Keep children inside and make sure the area is clear before mowing the lawn. Teach children that it is not safe to play near someone who is mowing their lawn. Mowers are very loud machines, and most times the person mowing may not be able to hear or see a child approaching the mower.

5. Prevent projectiles. Clear the yard of sticks, rocks, toys, or other items that can be thrown by the mower. Another reason to keep children inside while the mower is being used. The operator of the lawn mower should wear appropriate hearing and eye protection.

Water Safety

Drowning can happen fast and without much noise. It is a common cause of injury in children, but it can be prevented. By watching children closely, teaching simple safety rules, and making water areas safer, adults can help keep children safe. The tips below are easy steps to help protect children around water.

1. Actively supervise children in an around water.  Be sure there is an adult designated to watch kids at all times, even if you will only be away from the area for a short time.  Stay within arm’s reach at all times—especially for young or inexperienced swimmers. Drowning can happen quickly and silently, so continuous, attentive supervision is critical.

2. Teach children to never go near or in water without an adult.  Actively teach your child that they must be with an adult before nearing water.

3. Do not rely on swimming aids (water wings, pool noodles, etc.).  These toys do not keep children fully safe. Adult supervision is still needed at all times.

4. Make sure pools at home are fenced in with a self-closing, self-latching gate. This helps keep children from getting into the pool without an adult.

5. Understand and educate children about the differences between swimming in pools and open water. Teach about the added risks of tides, currents, undertows, changing weather conditions, and limited visibility in lakes or oceans.

6. Dress children in bright, neon swimsuits. Bright colors make it easier to see children in the water, especially if they go under.

ATV/ORV

All-terrain and off-road vehicles can be year-long activities. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that riders should be at least 16 years of age to operate these vehicles, as they are often too large and powerful for smaller kids to handle. Operating an ATV requires a rider to make quick decisions and shift weight. Children under 16 are unlikely to make these choices or have the skills to carry them out. Whether on private or public land follow these tips in order to have a safe ride. 

1. An adult must actively supervise anyone under the age of 16 on a snowmobile or ATV/ORV. Active supervision means having direct observation and being close enough to come to the immediate aid of a youthful ATV/ORV operator.

2. Drivers under 16 years old must take an ATV safety training course and carry their certificate with them at ALL times. Online ATV and snowmobile safety courses can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/en/dnr/things-to-do/ORV-Riding. 

3. Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection. Helmets with full face/chin protection are best. Replace helmets after a crash or fall.

4. Only ride an ATV/ORV that is right for your age and size. Vehicles designed for younger riders are smaller and less powerful. A rider on an appropriately sized vehicle can reach all of the controls, and have the strength and ability to operate them.

5. Never pull people or anything behind an ATV. Snowmobiles are not designed to pull sleds, people or anything behind it. Always check your manufacturer’s guide for the approved number of passengers and the amount of weight it can carry.

6. Stay alert! Watch for obstacles such as fallen trees, rocks, ditches, fences, open water (even frozen). 

7. Stay on the trail. Keep your ride on marked trails as they have been groomed and less likely to have hazards. Going off trail can lead you into unknown areas that can be dangerous and result in accidents. 

8. Never let kids or teens drive an ATV with a passenger. For a youthful rider, passengers can make snowmobiles or ATV/ORV’s unstable and difficult to control. Passengers can also cause distractions when a rider's focus should be on the path.

9. Use all safety equipment that comes with the vehicle, including seatbelts. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for proper vehicle use. Make sure the safety equipment is functional and used correctly to avoid an unintentional injury.

ATV/ORV Operator Regulations

• Allowed to operate a 3-wheel ATV: 

  • Under 10 years old: No

  • 10-11 year olds: No

  • 12-15 year olds: No

  • 16+ years old: Yes

• Allowed to operate a 4-wheel ATV:

  • Under 10 years old: No, except on private land while performing farm-related work operations

  • 10-11 year olds: No, except on land owned by the parent or guardian, under visual supervision** and with ORV certificate

  • 12-15 year olds: Yes, if under visual supervision** and with ORV certificate

  • 16+ years old: Yes

• Allowed to operate other ORVs (including 2-wheel):

  • Under 10 years old: Yes, if under visual supervision** and with ORV certificate

  • 10-11 year olds: Yes, if under visual supervision** and with ORV certificate

  • 12-15 year olds: Yes, if under visual supervision** and with ORV certificate

  • 16+ years old: Yes

• Allowed to cross street/highway:

  • Under 10 years old: No

  • 10-11 year olds: No

  • 12-15 year olds: Yes, if under visual supervision** and with ORV certificate

  • 16+ years old: Yes

**An adult must have direct observation and be close enough to come to the immediate aid of a youthful ORV/ATV operator. 

Wheeled Sport Safety

Riding bikes and other wheeled toys are a fun way to stay active, but they can also lead to serious injuries if safety steps are not followed. Wearing the right gear, following traffic rules, and staying alert can help prevent accidents and keep riders safe. The tips below offer simple ways to children protected every time they ride.

1. Always wear a helmet when riding anything with wheels, such as bicycles, scooters, skateboards, or roller skates. A helmet helps protect your head if you fall.

2. Replace your helmet after any crash or fall, even if you do not see damage. A damaged helmet may not protect you the next time.

3. Wear bright-colored clothing and use reflectors on your helmet and equipment. This helps drivers and others see you more easily, especially in low light.

4. Use bike lanes, bike paths, or sidewalks when they are available. These areas are safer and help keep you away from traffic.

5. Always stop and check for cars in both directions when leaving a driveway, alley, or curb before entering the street.

6. Follow the same traffic rules as cars. Stop at stop signs, obey traffic lights, and use signals when needed.

7. Walk your bike across busy streets or intersections. This helps keep you safe where there is a lot of traffic.

8. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Watch for cars, people, and obstacles around you at all times.

9. Do not use earbuds or headphones while riding. You need to hear what is happening around you to stay safe.

Pedestrian Safety

Whether it’s walking to the pool, the park, or enjoying a walk around your neighborhood, it's important to follow these safety tips to be safe and seen: 

1. Before crossing the street look left, right, and left again. Continue to look until you have crossed the street safely.

2. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Make sure vehicles have come to a complete stop before crossing.

3. Use crosswalks when available and cross at street corners, using traffic signals. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.

4. Don't cross the street between parked cars. Be alert for cars turning or backing up.

5. Avoid distractions by putting down your phone or video game when you cross the street. If you need to use a phone, stop walking and find a safe place to talk.

6. Be seen in the dark by wearing bright colored clothing. Place reflectors on coats, backpacks and walk in well-lit areas. 

Fire Safety in the Home and in the Yard

As the weather gets warmer, activities like camping and bonfires can be a fun part of summer. However, fire pits, fireplaces, and open flames can also be dangerous if safety steps are not followed. By staying alert and teaching children about fire safety, families can help prevent burns and house fires. The tips below share simple ways to stay safe around fires at home and outdoors.

1. Keep children at least 3 feet from the fire pit area. Make sure the fire pit is away from your house and anything that can burn to prevent unintentional fires and burns.

2. Actively supervise children when fire pits or fireplaces are in use. Teach children fire pits and fireplaces are dangerous areas. Use a metal screen over wood-burning fires to keep sparks from floating out. 

3. Assume it’s hot even when the fire is out! Turn off or put out fires before you leave the area. There may be hot coals or embers under the ashes even hours after the flames are put out. 

4. Store matches and lighters out of children’s sight and reach. Place matches and lighters in a locked cabinet or container. Never leave matches or lighters in a bedroom or any place where children can reach them.

5. Create and practice a fire escape plan. Create a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room. Choose a place to meet outside that is a safe distance away from your home. Teach kids it is dangerous to hide during a fire. 

6. Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Daylight saving time is a great reminder to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure there is a working smoke alarm on each level of your home, inside bedrooms and near common areas. 

Button Batteries

The small, round, flat batteries often found in toys, remote controls, and greeting cards are known as button batteries. These batteries can cause serious internal injuries and tissue burns if swallowed. Be aware of where these batteries are found and be sure to dispose of them appropriately when you no longer need them. 

1. Button batteries are not just a choking hazard, they can cause severe internal burns if swallowed. When a child swallows a button battery a chemical reaction can severely burn the esophagus in a short period of time.

2. Find the hazard. Search your home for items that may contain coin-sized lithium batteries. Items that use button batteries may include remotes, greeting cards, hearing aids, games, toys, digital scales, watches, thermometers, calculators, key fobs, flameless or tea light candles, flashing holiday jewelry, or decorations.

3. Keep loose or extra batteries locked away. Place a piece of duct tape over the battery compartment of items that require button batteries to work. 

Printable Tip Sheets

Click on the links below for a free PDF copy of one of our safety tip handouts! 

• Spring Safety Tips

• Summer Safety Tips

• Fall Safety Tips

• Winter Safety Tips 

• Water Safety 

• Wheeled Sport Safety

• ATV/ORV 

• Snowmobile Safety