Spring is finally here, and as the snow melts, your garden is calling out for some much-needed care. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a first-timer, it’s essential to keep your safety in mind while tending to your plants. Gardening is often seen as a relaxing hobby, but it can also come with hidden dangers. Believe it or not, over 400,000 outdoor garden-tool-related accidents are treated in emergency rooms every year!
To help you stay safe and enjoy your gardening to the fullest, here are some essential tips for keeping your fingers—and the rest of your body—protected while working in the yard.
1. Protect Your Hands with Gloves
Wearing gloves is a must when gardening. Not only do they help prevent blisters and protect your nails, but they also serve as a barrier between your skin and potentially harmful substances. Gloves can protect your hands from pesticides, fertilizers, and harmful bacteria or fungi found in soil.
Leather gloves are particularly useful for protecting against thorns, bites, and poison ivy. The little scrapes and pokes you get in the garden may seem harmless, but they can quickly lead to infections. Wearing gloves significantly reduces the risk of these injuries and keeps your skin safe.
2. Avoid Repetitive Movements
Gardening often involves repetitive tasks like planting, pruning, digging, or raking. While it’s easy to get caught up in hours of work, this repetitive motion can lead to muscle strain, tendon irritation, and nerve damage. To avoid aches and pains, vary your activities throughout the day and make sure to take regular breaks. This simple step can go a long way in preventing injury and keeping you comfortable.
3. Use the Right Tools for the Job
It’s tempting to reach for your hands when you’re digging or moving things around, but sharp objects or hidden debris in the soil can cause serious injuries. Always use a shovel or appropriate gardening tool rather than risking injury to your hands by digging blindly.
When purchasing tools, choose ones designed for the task at hand and look for models with built-in safety locks. Also, avoid gardening tools with molded “finger grips” unless they are the perfect fit for your hands. Improperly fitting grips can cause discomfort, leading to hand fatigue and even injury over time.
4. Keep Children Safe
Gardening tools can be sharp and dangerous, especially for young ones. It’s important to keep children away from tools like pruners, spades, and shears, which could cause serious harm if mishandled. Establish a safe gardening area for children to help with age-appropriate tasks, but always supervise them closely.
5. Know When to Seek Medical Attention
Even with the best precautions, accidents can still happen. If you suffer a gardening injury, make sure to seek medical treatment in the following cases:
- Persistent bleeding: If pressure doesn’t stop the bleeding after 10-15 minutes, seek medical help immediately.
- Difficulty cleaning the wound: If you’re unable to thoroughly clean a wound with soap and water, it could lead to infection.
- Tetanus risk: If you’re unsure when your last tetanus shot was, it’s always safer to consult with a healthcare professional.
- Numbness or tingling: If you experience numbness or tingling in your fingers or hand, it could indicate nerve damage.
- Signs of infection: Redness, swelling, heat, pain, or drainage from a wound are all signs of infection and should be checked by a doctor.
Conclusion
Gardening is a rewarding and therapeutic activity, but it’s crucial to keep safety in mind. By wearing gloves, avoiding repetitive motions, using the right tools, and keeping children away from sharp objects, you can minimize the risk of injury and ensure that your garden remains a safe and enjoyable space.
Happy gardening, and may your green thumb grow stronger with every safe, healthy plant you nurture!
If you or a loved one experiences an orthopaedic injury while gardening, our expert team of hand specialists are happy to help! Click the link below to find the best option for you! In addition, if you experience an injury after-hours, our UrgentOrtho Clinics are open and available to serve you Mon-Fri from 5PM-9PM and Saturdays from 10AM-2PM. Click the link below to find the closest location to you!