6 Gardening Injury Prevention Tips
Spring has arrived and so has the time for gardening and planting. Unfortunately, this time also coincides with an increased incidence of hand injuries and elbow tendonitis.
Keep your hands and arms safe from an unnecessary gardening injury by following these helpful suggestions.
1. Wear gloves
Wear gardening or work gloves to prevent cuts and scrapes. Bacteria from the soil can enter the injured area and cause a harmful infection.
2. Cover your arms
Keep the arms covered with long sleeves to prevent exposure to irritants such as poison ivy and insect bites.
3. Rest your hands
Avoid sustained gripping, awkward positions and prolonged periods of activity. These situations can cause wrist and elbow tendonitis.
4. Take breaks
When completing large projects, take frequent breaks or switch activities.
5. Use both hands . . .
Use both hands to perform heavy tasks such as lifting bags of soil or mulch and repetitive tasks like scooping dirt.
6. (. . . But not to dig.)
Use proper tools to dig in the soil instead of your hands. Deep cuts on glass fragments or sharp rocks can result in a gardening injury such as a skin or tendon laceration.
