Introduction
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 always important. Below are some tips to help keep you safe and healthy so that you can enjoy the beauty and bounty gardening can bring.
Dress to Protect
Dress up to protect yourself from lawn and garden pests, harmful chemicals, sharp or motorised equipment, insects, and harmful rays of too much sun. It is important to remember that garden is not a level ground. Take care while walking up and down the plots.
Wear safety goggles, sturdy shoes, and long trousers when using lawn mowers and other machinery. Protect your hearing when using machinery by wearing ear plugs.
Wear appropriate 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 long-sleeved shirts, and trousers 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 by wearing long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, sun shades, and sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF).
Spring and Summer Outdoor Safety.
Powered and unpowered tools and equipment can cause serious injury inspect before use. Limit distractions, use chemicals and equipment properly, check container labels before use and be aware of hazards to lower your risk for injury.
Follow instructions and warning labels on chemicals and lawn and gardern equipment. Make sure equipment is working properly. Sharpening tools must be left to appointed persons.
Injury Prevention and control. Know your limits in the heat.
If you are outside in hot weather for most of the day you will need to make an effort to drink more fluids.
Avoid drinking liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar, especially in the heat. These actually cause you to lose more fluid.
Take break when required. 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 over weight, 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.
Talk to your immediate supervisor if you have any 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 2½ hours per week of moderate physical activity can give you more energy and can help relieve arthritis pain and stifness.
If you are taking medications that may make you drowsy or impair your judgment or reaction time do not operate machinery, climb ladders, or do activities that may increase your risk for injury. Listen to your body. Monitor your heart rate, level of fatigue, and physical discomfort.
Let your field supervisor immediately know if you get injured, experience chest and arm pain, dizziness, light-headedness, or heat –related illness.
Enjoy the benefits of physical activitiy
Gardening is an excellent way to get physical activity. Active people are less likely than in active people to obese or have high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke,depression, colon cancer, and premature death.Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles. You can burn 150 calories by gardening (standing) for approximately 30-45 minutes. Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.
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.
Make use of your legs rather than your back. Always ask for help if necessary.
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.
