Every homeowner knows that maintenance is an ongoing chore, especially outdoors when the gardening season is upon us. What you might not realize is there’s a good chance of injury if you don’t take the proper precautions and use common sense when you’re busy bringing things up to snuff!
The number one cause of home injury is falling, so when you’re using a ladder to clean gutter or prune a tree you should have a helper to hold the ladder steady and hand you tools as you need them. That way you can easily prevent a trip to the emergency room by following safe habits.
It’s also common to injure yourself because you’re out of shape, so take it easy starting out. If your muscles are on the weak side, consider a few trips to the gym or a yoga class during the months leading up to garden season. It’s much easier to stay in shape than to recover from a back injury!
If you’re using power tools, make sure you’re familiar with the tool and it’s safety features before you begin. Common tools such as lawn mowers can cause an injury in a split second, so make sure others are out of the way, too.
Another outdoor hazard is having a reaction to a plant or an insect sting, so it’s a good idea to always wear gloves when you’re working in the yard. While poison ivy and oak are the usual culprits, you may have an unknown allergy to another plant and won’t realize it until it’s too late. The same goes for insects; while you may think you’re not allergic to bees, an allergy can develop at any stage in life.
Ticks can be dangerous, so use repellent when you’re in areas they may be hiding in. The same goes for mosquitoes, which can carry disease. Make sure there’s no standing water in your yard, because that’s where mosquitoes breed.
Last but not least, watch out for the sun! Sunburn and dehydration are the main culprits for trip to the emergency room in summer, so wear sunscreen and limit your exposure. Better safe than sorry!
