Yard Work Safety Tips from the Doctors at South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, FL

With the advent of summer, the need for yard work usually increases. Whether you are an expert landscaper with an award-winning garden or a weekend warrior just trying to keep the grass looking trimmed and presentable, you need to proceed with caution. Each year, thousands of Americans are rushed to the emergency room as a result of a yard work-related injury.

To keep yourself and your family safe, you’ll want to take the following precautions when performing any type of yard work:

• When using power tools, never allow children or pets in the yard – Do not take chances; the risk of traumatic injury is too high. Make sure your children and pets are safety supervised indoors before using any type of lawn mower, weed whacker, edger, hedge clippers, rototiller, chainsaw, wood chipper, or other cutting machine.

• Warm up – Take a short, brisk walk and stretch to prepare your body for the bending, lifting, and other movements necessitated by yard maintenance tasks.

• Inspect your yard – Before you start, check the area and clean up any sticks, stones, glass, or other potential hazards.

• Wear / do not wear protective gardening gloves – Wear gloves to protect your hands from blisters when weeding or using hand tools such as rakes, brooms, shovels, hoes, and spades. On the other hand, remove your hand protection prior to using any type of power tool – the gloves could cause you to lose your grip when handling this dangerous machinery.

• Protect yourself – Flying grass, wood chips, stones, dirt, pine needles, and other debris can severely injure your eyes and exposed skin, so safety goggles or other adequate eye protection is a must, along with close-fitting long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes. Also, remove all jewelry beforehand, and be sure to apply insect repellent and sunscreen.

• Attach a grass-collecting unit to your lawn mower – This will collect small objects and prevent them from turning into dangerous projectiles.

• Exercise caution when using a ladder – If you need to use a power tool while standing on a ladder, it’s best to have another person assist by handing you the tool once you reach the desired height, steadying the ladder while you work, and taking the tool from you before you descend.

• If possible, try not to use general pesticides – There may be a product targeted to the specific problem you are trying to resolve. If you use chemicals for weed control, be sure the read the label and follow all instructions carefully. Never use more than the recommended amount.

• If you are tired, stop – Even if you are in the middle of a chore, save it for another day if you become fatigued or lose your focus.

• Turn off and put away your tools immediately after use – Prevent accidents such as tripping over hoses and other yard work implements left out in the yard.

For additional advice on how to keep your family safe and healthy this summer, please browse our online series of health articles. If you have questions or need to see a doctor, consider contacting or visiting South Tampa Immediate Care. Our walk-in clinic is centrally located on South Howard Avenue in Tampa, FL, and we are available to patients throughout Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Brandon, and the Greater Tampa Bay area.