Summertime has come at last, and with it the happy sights and sounds of kids playing out on the lawn. And where there are lawns, there must also be lawn mowers – and mower-related injuries.

With this in mind, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other professional groups have joined forces to emphasize lawn mower safety.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 200,000 people are injured in lawn mower-related accidents each year — 16,000 of them kids. Fortunately, every one of these “accidents” is preventable.

Carelessness around power mowers is the leading cause of injuries, and you can minimize the risk by observing a few common-sense rules. Rule #1 is that kids under 12 should never be allowed to touch, fool around with, or operate any lawn mower.

Wearing sturdy shoes–not sandals–picking up stones or toys before mowing, and never pulling the mower backwards or mowing in reverse are also important cautions.

By keeping these simple safety tips in mind, we can look forward to a long, wonderful season of warm weather, neatly-trimmed lawns, and happy, safe kids.