This is the time of year when many people are itching to forget the winter snows and start working on gardens and lawns. April also marks some observances celebrating the great outdoors, including National Gardening Day (April 14), Earth Day (April 20), and Arbor Day (April 26). But digging in the dirt and trimming branches have their own risks. Believe it or not, every year thousands of people wind up in the emergency room from lawn and garden related accidents.Here are some general tips to prevent injuries while working in the garden, planting a new tree,or doing other yard chores.
- Always call 811 at least a few days before starting any digging project so locators can mark the approximate location of buried utility lines. For more information, check out http://call811.com.
- Wear gloves to reduce the risk of cuts, insect bites and skin irritation from fertilizers, pesticides and naturally occurring fungus or bacteria in the soil.
- Wear safety goggles, sturdy shoes and long pants when using power tools and equipment.
- Follow all instructions and warning labels on lawn and garden chemicals and keep them out of the reach of children.
- Use hearing protection when operating machinery such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other loud power equipment.
- Reduce sunburn and skin cancer risk by wearing long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, sun shades and sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
- Do not extinguish smoking materials in potted plants. Modern potting mixes are largely composed of peat moss, shredded wood, bark and other organic materials that can easily ignite.
