Names & Faces

The following article appeared in the "Style: Names & Faces" section of the Washington Post, Saturday, October 29, 2005

Rescue Rick on a Mission

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's . . . Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man?! Yep, that's right. Coming to a random location near you.

Richard Mudrinich is a financial securities associate by day and a cape-wearing crusader of lawnmower safety by night (and on weekends sometimes).

The Great Falls resident says he created his superhero after he ran over his foot with a lawnmower in 2003 and underwent five surgeries. "People in the hospital told me how frequently these accidents happened," he says. "I started to think of what I could do to raise awareness of yard safety."

Rescue Rick officially debuted in 2004, handing out leaflets at public events to "draw some positive attention" to his cause. He has since popped up at gas stations, schools and the Mall.

"I decided to enter the world of entertainment in the form of a renaissance yard man to communicate the safety message," Mudrinich says.

He says his family and friends support his cause but are "laughing along with me" at the concept of Rescue Rick and his outlandish costume (bright red cape, yellow T-shirt, Groucho Marx-style nose and multicolored socks).

Despite the lighthearted jests, Mudrinich says he's "trying to essentially mimic Johnny Appleseed" by distributing leaflets wherever he goes and will be out in full Rescue Rick regalia promoting his message this Halloween.

I am very grateful for the Washington Post to print this article about my yard safety awareness advocacy.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Forgiveness

"It is important to forgive one another. Life is too short. Some day, you will run out of gas. Forgive today."

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Chi Energy

Chi energy is all of the energy of the universe around us. In three manifestations Heavenly, Earthly, and Personal Chi, it is the stuff of life itself. All three together comprise Universal Chi. Other cultures have called it different things such as Ki (Japanese), Qi (Chinese), Ruach (Hebrew), Great Spirit (Native Americans), Life Force (New Age American), and Spirit (Celtic). All things that exist contain some part of this energy. It is the energy that causes molecular motion thus demonstrating its existence in everything.

It is important to maintain optimal Chi energy while grass cutting, leading to the prevention of yard accidents. It is important to prepare for your grass cut session by utilizing mental imaging and by channeling your Chi energy toward achieving a safety grass cutting experience.

Think before you cut. It hurts. (tm)

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Halloween II

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man will be dressing-up as himself again this Halloween. Rescue Rick is a “caped crusader” working tirelessly to prevent lawn mower accidents and to promote grass cut safety. He will be going trick-or-treat from house-to-house to share his Halloween treat - his grass cut safety flyer.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

World Series

It is October and time for another World Series. It is time for Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man to make an appearance at the World Series, if I can get there.

I present to you Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man - a yard safety advocate. About a year ago, Rescue Rick had a lawn mower accident that resulted in the partial amputation of my left foot. Consequently, he has become an advocate and promoter of yard safety, with the goal to prevent these outdoor power equipment accidents from happening to other people and animals. Furthermore, Rescue Rick is a renaissance yardman, utilizing various art forms to communicate the safety message. He has approached Major League Baseball about the possibility of dedicating one day of the MLB season as Yard Safety Awareness Day, including yard safety brochures and Rescue Rick bobblehead dolls.

Each year, there are about 400,000 individuals who experience lawn mower and garden-tool-related accidents, often times resulting in severe and life-altering outcomes. Since baseball is America's pastime and often played on natural turf, Rescue Rick seeks assistance and consideration to facilitate this humanitarian idea.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Think

"Think before you cut. It hurts."

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

aPAL

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man is a pal (aPAL) of the commerce, medical, educational, landscaping, outdoor power equipment, public service, and safety communities. Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) presents some recommended actions (aPAL) as solutions to prevent lawn mower accidents.

Awareness – create awareness regarding the frequency and severity of lawn mower accidents and recommend the implementation of preventive grass cut safety measures and procedures.

Protection – wear personal protective equipment when grass cutting.

Avoidance – hire a professional lawn service that absorbs the risk and implements grass cut safety measures and procedures.

Legislation – propose new legislation (perhaps, The Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man Act) that sets the minimum lawn equipment operator age at 16 with required grass cut safety education, introduces an operator's license, launches various grass cut safety educational programs targeted at various age and occupational groups, etcetera.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) is the first yard safety super hero in the history of the world. (tm) Think before you cut. It hurts. (tm)

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Entropy

"Grass cutting contributes to entropy."

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Universe

"Give to the universe and prosper in one way or another for the betterment of mankind."

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Grass Cut Safety Poster Man

I propose to the grass cut, medical and public service communities the concept of the Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man poster to be displayed in every venue that has anything to do with public service and commerce involving outdoor power equipment as well as the prevention and treatment of related yard accidents. Also, I think that every town hall should hang a Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man poster. Thank you for your consideration.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Mowing

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) designs and develops grass cut safety gear™, including the Rescue Rick Grass Cut Safety Footwear™. In particular, Richard Mudrinich (Rescue Rick) is the first to conceive, design, develop, and build the first of its kind grass cut safety footwear. I conceived these ideas, especially the grass cut footwear, after chopping-off part of my left foot with a push mower. While in the hospital looking out over the Pittsburgh skyline, I made a life-commitment to do whatever I can to prevent yard accidents from happening to other people and animals. Since I cut-off part of my left paw, I focused initially on developing grass cut footwear. I am the first person in the world to conceive footwear specific to lawn mowing and yardwork - especially involving outdoor power equipment. In essence, I am living the life of a yard safety super hero. I want to rescue people and animals from getting hurt. Thus, I have designed grass cut safety gear and armor™. In addition, Rescue Rick (sm) proposes the creation and establishment of yard safety display centers™ wherever outdoor power equipment is sold and serviced.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man

Shoes-N-More

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) designs and develops grass cut safety gear™, including the Rescue Rick Grass Cut Safety Footwear™. In particular, Richard Mudrinich (Rescue Rick) is the first to conceive, design, develop, and build the first of its kind grass cut safety footwear. I conceived these ideas, especially the grass cut footwear, after chopping-off part of my left foot with a push mower. While in the hospital looking out over the Pittsburgh skyline, I made a life-commitment to do whatever I can to prevent yard accidents from happening to other people and animals. Since I cut-off part of my left paw, I focused initially on developing grass cut footwear. I am the first person in the world to conceive footwear specific to lawn mowing and yardwork - especially involving outdoor power equipment. In essence, I am living the life of a yard safety super hero. I want to rescue people and animals from getting hurt. Thus, I have designed grass cut safety gear and armor™. In addition, Rescue Rick (sm) proposes the creation and establishment of yard safety display centers™ wherever outdoor power equipment is sold and serviced. Please visit http://www.rescuerick.com for additional information.

Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man