A lawn mower is much more than just a simple, everyday power tool sitting in your garage -- just ask the 230,000 American adults and children who are injured in lawn mower accidents each year.

Lawn mower injuries can be very serious. They can include deep cuts, loss of fingers and toes, broken and dislocated bones, and burns. Flying debris can damage eyes and cause other injuries to mower operators and those standing nearby.

Riding lawn mowers cause some of the most serious injuries for both adults and children. Adults often allow young children to ride on their lap while they cut the lawn, which is never a good idea. With young passengers riding aboard the mowers, there is always the potential that they could fall off the machine while it's running -- which can result in the child's hands, feet or entire body being run over by the mower, said Dr. Marie Lozon, director of University of Michigan Health System Emergency Medicine.

"Lawn mower injuries are truly devastating," said Dr. John Thometz, medical director of Orthopedic Surgery at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. "The nerve and bone injury we see in too many cases results in permanent damage or even the loss of a limb."

But with a little extra lawn mower caution and safety, many of the serious and even life-threatening injuries often caused by lawn mowers can be prevented.

"These are entirely preventable injuries," said Dr. Andrea Winthrop, medical director of the Trauma and Injury Prevention Program at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. "Treating these injuries requires a team approach to address all the medical and psychological needs of the child and family."

And with more than 22 percent of lawn mower injuries involving the hands, fingers or wrist, it's important to always make sure the engine is off and the mower blade has completely stopped rotating and remove the spark plug before attempting to remove debris from the mower or make adjustments.

"Even when the mower's turned off, the blade is still turning and there's still the risk for a severe injury," said Michael McReynolds, a Michigan flight nurse. "And even if there are times when you just want to adjust the height of the mower's wheels, you should pull out the spark plug to ensure that there's no way for the lawn mower to turn on."

The best advice is to read your owner's manual for proper safety operating instructions.

The following recommendations, adapted from sources including the American Academy of Pediatrics, are designed to prevent lawn mower injuries to children:

Be sure people -- especially children and pets -- are out of the yard while mowing.
Never carry a child while operating a riding mower or lawn tractor. The child may slip and fall in the path of the mower or get the impression a mower is a toy.
Do not allow children younger than 14 years of age to use ride-on mowers and do not allow children younger than 12 years of age to use walk-behind mowers.
Only use a power mower with a safety control that stops the mower if the handle is let go. This control should never be disconnected.
Wear heavy-duty, closed-toe shoes, long pants and eye protection.
Do not mow at dusk or at night.
Make sure the grass is dry.
Clear the yard of sticks, stones and other debris that may be shot out while mowing.
Wear protective gear including pants, steel-toed boots, goggles and ear protection. But experts caution lawn mower operators against using portable music players, which may distract the operator from other potential dangers.
When leaving a mower unattended, turn off the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire.
Never adjust the mower height or clean or remove the grass chute with the engine running.
Stay clear of a hot engine. Mufflers can reach up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Always disconnect the spark plug wire and let the engine cool 10 minutes before refueling. Gas spilled on a hot engine could cause a flash fire.
Always mow across an incline with a walk-behind mower; always mow up and down an incline with a riding mower.