Gardening Health and Safety Tips
Gardening can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get physical activity, beautify the
community, and grow nutritious fruits and vegetables. Whether you are a
beginner or expert gardener, health and safety are important.
According to
the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2004, about 67,000 consumers
nationwide went to emergency rooms because of injuries related to push
mowers. About 14,600 suffered injuries related to riding mowers and garden
tractors.
Below are
some tips to help keep you safe and healthy so that you can enjoy the beauty
and bounty gardening can bring.
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Dress
to protect.
Gear up to protect yourself from lawn and garden chemicals, equipment, insects, and the sun.
- Wear
safety goggles, sturdy shoes, and long pants when using lawn mowers
and other machinery.
- Protect your hearing when using machinery. If you have to raise your
voice to talk to someone who is an arm's length away, the noise can
be potentially harmful to your hearing.
- Wear gloves to lower the risk for skin irritations, cuts,
and certain contaminants.
- Protect yourself from diseases caused by mosquitoes and ticks.
Use insect repellent
containing DEET. Wear clothing treated with permethrin, long-sleeved
shirts, and pants tucked in your socks. You may also want to wear
high rubber boots since ticks are usually located close to the
ground.
- Lower your risk for sunburn and skin cancer. Wear long
sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, sun shades, and sunscreen with SPF
15 or higher.
Lyme
Disease and Animals
Skin
Cancer Prevention: Questions and Answers
Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message for Women
West
Nile Virus: Fight the Bite
West Nile Virus:
Recommendations for Protecting Outdoor Workers |
|
Put
safety first.
Limit distractions, use chemicals and
equipment properly, and be aware of hazards to lower your risk for injury.
- Follow
instructions and warning labels on chemicals and lawn and
garden equipment.
- Make
sure equipment is working properly.
- Sharpen
tools carefully.
- Keep
harmful chemicals, tools, and equipment out of children's reach.
Tips
to Prevent Poisonings
Remember Safety in the Yard and Garden (CPSC) |
|
Watch
out for heat-related illness.
Even being out in short periods of high
temperatures can cause serious health problems. Monitor your activities
and time in the sun to lower your risk for heat-related illness.
- Drink
plenty of water throughout the day to replace lost fluids. Don’t wait
until you’re thirsty to drink.
- Avoid
drinking liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar,
especially in the heat. These actually cause you to lose more body
fluid.
- Take
breaks often. Try to rest in shady areas so that your body's thermostat
will have a chance to recover. Stop working if you experience
breathlessness or muscle soreness.
- Pay
attention to signs of heat-related illness, including extremely high
body temperature, headache, rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea, confusion,
or unconsciousness.
- Watch
people who are at higher risk for heat-related illness, including
infants and children up to four years of age; people 65 years of age or
older; people who are overweight; people who push themselves too hard
during work or exercise; and people who are physically ill or who take certain medications (i.e. for depression, insomnia, or
poor circulation).
- Eat
healthy foods to help keep you energized.
Extreme Heat |
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Know
your limits.
Talk to your health care provider if you have physical, mental, or
environmental concerns that may impair your ability to work in the
garden safely.
- If
you have arthritis, use tools that are easy to grasp and that fit
your ability. Research shows that moderate physical activity three
or more days a week can give you more energy and can help relieve
arthritis pain and stiffness.
- If
you are taking medications that may make you drowsy or impair your
judgment or reaction time, don’t operate machinery, climb ladders,
or do activities that may increase your risk for injury.
- Listen to your body. Monitor your
level of fatigue, heart rate, and physical discomfort.
- Call 911 if you experience warning signs of a heart attack
(sweating, chest and arm pain, dizziness, and/or lightheadedness) or
heat-related illness.
Arthritis:
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips for Avoiding Activity-Induced Injuries
Gardening and Arthritis (Arthritis Foundation) |
|
Enjoy
the benefits of physical activity.
Gardening is an
excellent way to get physical activity. Active people
are less likely than inactive people to be obese or have high blood
pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, coronary artery disease, stroke,
depression, colon cancer, and premature death.
- Get at
least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most,
preferably all, days of the week. You can burn 150 kcalories by
gardening (standing) for approximately 30-45 minutes. Kids
should get 60 minutes of moderate physical activity on most
days.
- If you
have been inactive, start out with just a few minutes of physical
activity each day. Gradually build up time and intensity.
- Vary
your gardening activities to keep your interest and to broaden the range
of benefits.
Making
Physical Activity Part of Your Life |
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Get
vaccinated.
Vaccinations can prevent many diseases and save lives. All adults should get a tetanus vaccination every 10 years. Tetanus lives in
the soil and enters the body through breaks in the skin. Because gardeners
use sharp tools, dig in the dirt, and handle plants with sharp points, they
are particularly prone to tetanus infections.
- Before you start gardening this season, make sure your
tetanus/diphtheria (Td) vaccination is up to date.
- Ask
your health care provider if you need any other vaccinations.
Adult
Immunization Schedule
Tetanus
(Lockjaw) |
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Content Source: CDC Office
of Women's Health
Page last modified:
November 7, 2008
Page last reviewed: April 21, 2008