Be Careful in the Garden

Now that summer is here, many of us will begin to build our gardens. While we may not think about it, the garden can be a dangerous place if we do not take steps to include safety into our routine. For maximum benefit with minimum effort, there are some things that you can do in the garden to make your gardening safer and more pleasurable. The sun is hot so remember to wear a hat in the garden and don't forget the sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun and flying objects that can injure your eyes. Don't forget to apply sunscreen liberally even if it is a cloudy day.

Wear proper attire. Safety gloves will protect your skin from cuts and from contaminated soil. Wear boots and no baggy clothing. Most importantly use goggles to protect your eyes when using trimmers or other cutting machinery. Place your garden tools in an area where you will not cut yourself on any sharp edges. Beware of the improperly placed garden rake-unlike the movies-getting hit in the face with a handle hurts. Make sure the garden tools and equipment you are using are in good condition because a malfunction in damaged garden tools can cause a serious injury. Use ladders, shovels, and heavy cutting machinery with safety and caution.

Many garden supply centers sell resting pads for your knees. This is a comfortable option if you are going to spend a lot of time digging. It protects you from the hard ground and from the chill.

Take a break. Don't spend too much time in the sun and heat. Cool down and get yourself a glass of ice water. Don't over do it.