Video: Husqvarna's New Safety Awareness Program Reminds 'Kids and Mowers Don't Mix'

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- A lawn tractor can be a handy tool to keep your yard looking great. As with any tool, you must respect its power and use caution during operation.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/husqvarna/27474 /

For lawn tractors, these precautions are especially critical if children are in the area. Tragic accidents can happen in an instant. You can severely injure or kill by running over a child with the riding mower - in forward or reverse - with the blades engaged, or when objects are hit and thrown by the spinning blades.

"The first step to reducing accidents is to have the mindset that the lawn tractor is a powerful tool, not a toy," said Roger Leon of Husqvarna Outdoor Products Inc. "It should be used only to accomplish outdoor chores and tasks when children are not present in the mowing area."

As part of an industry leading initiative, Husqvarna, the world's leading manufacturer of lawn mowers, is including a bright yellow card and a "Kids and Mowers Don't Mix" key chain with each of its newly manufactured lawn tractors.

  The card includes these guidelines for operating a mower:

  -- Know where your kids are. Keep kids away from the mowing area. Have
     adult supervision to prevent them from approaching the mower before you
     have finished. Stop mowing if a child approaches the mowing area.
  -- Never give rides. A child may fall off the mower and into the spinning
     blades. Giving rides may also cause the child to be attracted to the
     mower, and the child may later approach without being seen.
  -- Use extreme caution in reverse. Keep alert for anyone who may enter the
     mowing area. Always look down and behind before and while backing up.

You should also read and follow the safety instructions in your owner's manual and remember to keep the keys to your mower out of the reach of children.

The brightly colored cards, with a replacement tractor key and key chain with a reminder that says "Where are your kids?" will be available at Husqvarna dealers and major retailers. See more information about "Kids and Mowers Don't Mix" at http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/.

About Husqvarna

Husqvarna is the world's largest producer of lawn mowers, chainsaws and portable gas-powered garden equipment such as trimmers and blowers. The Group is also a world leader in diamond tools and cutting equipment for the construction and stone industries. Net sales in 2006 were USD 3.9 billion and the average number of employees was 11,400.