SIUSLAW NEWS
Prevent accidents,
injuries this summer
Homes are supposed to serve as sanctuaries, but
safety hazards may be lurking in many homes.
Thousands upon thousands of people fall victim to
unintentional injuries each year because of simple
safety mistakes made around the house.
According to the security company A Secure
Life, unintentional injuries result in an average of
21 million medical visits each year in the United
States.
Many people may not realize that some of the
more common home injuries can be prevented. The
National Safety Council encourages everyone to be
aware of home hazards and to take proper safety
precautions.
Here are some of the more common causes of
intentional injury and death at home and how to
prevent members of your household from falling
victim to them.
P OISONING
Many substances found in typical households
contribute to poisonings each year. In recent years,
prescription drug overdose has become one of the
leading causes of unintentional poisonings.
Prescription opioids and heroin killed more than
33,000 people in 2015, more than any year on
record, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Nearly half of all opioid overdose
deaths involve a prescription opioid. Safer, more
effective alternatives to pain management may
reduce the number of deaths linked to opioids.
All medications should be kept out of the reach
of children. Medications should be kept in original
packaging and taken only for prescribed reasons,
and prescription drugs should never be shared.
F ALLING
Falling is a concern at any age, but it is the No. 1
cause of death for individuals ages 71 and older,
according to the NSC. Hazardous conditions at
home, and not necessarily age, contribute to many
instances of falling at home. Removing clutter,
rearranging furniture to facilitate movement around
the house, improving lighting and visibility, and
installing grab bars in high-traffic areas are just
some ways to reduce the likelihood of falling
inside a home.
D ROWNING
The CDC reports that, between 2005 and 2014,
there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional
drownings (non-boating related) each year in the
United States. That equates to about 10 deaths per
day. Drowning remains a major concern for chil-
dren age 14 and under. Summer swimming and
boating-related activities can increase the risk of
drowning as well.
Instances of drowning can be prevented by pro-
viding barriers between homes and pools. Children
should never be left unsupervised in the bath or
near bodies of water. Adults should avoid alcohol
when swimming or boating.
Swimmers and those near the water should
always wear a well-fitting life preserver.
Homeowners who are aware of common home
hazards and take steps to reduce such hazards can
dramatically lower the risk of accidents at their
homes.
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| S ATURDAY , J UNE 10, 2017
3 C
Stay safe when landscaping
L
andscaping is typi-
cally viewed as a
chore by homeowners,
many of who enjoy doing
some work on their lawns
and gardens. But only few
homeowners may recog-
nize the potential dangers
of lawn maintenance.
The Consumer Product
Safety
Commission
reports that more than
230,000 people per year
are treated for various
injuries resulting from
lawn and garden tools.
Common injuries include
loss of fingers, lacera-
tions, broken and dislo-
cated bones, eye injuries,
and burns. Many of these
injuries are entirely pre-
ventable if homeowners
prioritize safety when
tending to their lawns and
gardens.
make a game of riding a
child on a riding mower.
Nobody under the age of
16 should operate riding
lawn mowers.
G ET APPROVAL
BEFORE DIGGING
It’s difficult to know
what is beneath the ground
without having a property
surveyed and marked.
Digging without approval
can result in damage to
gas lines or water/sewer
pipes. Always check with
the utility company before
digging trenches or holes.
U NPLUG OR TURN OFF
ALL EQUIPMEN t
When not in use, keep
lawn equipment off. Do
not try to repair or fix a
snag or obstruction in
equipment while it is on.
Don’t modify the equip-
ment in any way, such as
U NDERSTAND THE
COURTESY PHOTO
EQUIPMENT
protective
Read manuals, wear protective equipment and be removing
Homeowners should safe when doing lawn and garden work.
guards.
not assume they know
how to use all of the tools
E XERCISE CAUTION
pants and sleeves can
W EAR APPROPRIATE
necessary to maintain lush
WITH CHEMICALS
guard against flying
PROTECTIVE GEAR
lawns and bountiful gar-
Those who choose to
Failure to wear protec- debris.
dens. Familiarize yourself tive gear can lead to inju-
use pesticides or fertiliz-
with the proper operation ry. Personal protective
ers should follow manu-
W ATCH YOUR
of manual and motorized equipment
facturers’ safety instruc-
SURROUNDINGS
includes
equipment by reading the gloves, eye protection, ear
Thousands of injuries tions. Avoid application
owner’s manual thor- protection, boots and a occur to children and pets on windy days or right
oughly, making special hard hat if necessary. who get hurt around mow- before a rainstorm, as this
note of recommended When working during ers. It’s best if children can spread the product
safety guidelines.
visibility conditions or at and pets remain indoors and damage the ecosys-
Take some time to night, wear a reflective when homeowners are tem. Keep people and pets
locate the power buttons vest.
mowing or using other away from treated areas.
and other parts by com-
Maintaining the yard is
Other protective items power equipment that
paring them to illustra- include a hat to shade may kick up debris. both a necessity and a
tions in the guide. Once your eyes from the sun’s Children under the age of hobby. Homeowners who
you feel comfortable han- rays. Sunscreen will pro- 12 may not have the prioritize safety can great-
dling the equipment, then tect the skin from UVA strength or ability to oper- ly reduce their risk of
you can begin to use it.
and UVB radiation. Long ate lawn tools. Also, never injury. — Metro
Tips to avoid aches and pains when gardening
People who have not
spent much time in a gar-
den may not consider this
rewarding hobby much of
a threat to their health.
But as veteran gardeners
can attest, gardening can
contribute to nagging
aches and pains that can
force even the most ardent
green-thumbers indoors.
Gardening is a physical
activity that, despite its
peaceful nature, can be
demanding on the body.
Thankfully, there are sev-
eral ways that gardening
enthusiasts can prevent
the aches and pains that
can sometimes pop up
after long days in the gar-
den.
• Use ergonomic gar-
dening tools. These tools
are designed to prevent
the types of aches, pains
and injuries that can cut
gardeners’ seasons short.
Gardening injuries can
affect any area of the
body, but injuries or aches
and pains affecting the
back, wrists and hands are
among the most common
physical problems gar-
deners endure. Look for
tools that reduce the strain
on these areas of the body.
Even arthritis sufferers
who love to garden may
find that ergonomic tools
make it possible for them
to spend more time in
their gardens.
• Alternate tasks.
Repetitive-strain injuries
can affect gardeners who
spend long periods of
time performing the same
activity in their gardens.
By alternating tasks dur-
ing gardening sessions,
gardeners can reduce their
risk of suffering repetitive
strain injuries. Remember
to include some simple
jobs even on busy garden-
ing days so the body gets
a break.
• Take frequent breaks.
Breaks can help combat
the stiffness and muscle
aches that may not appear
until gardeners finish their
gardening sessions.
Breaks help to alleviate
muscles or joints that can
become overtaxed when
gardening for long, unin-
terrupted periods of time.
When leaning down or
working on your hands
and knees, stand up to
take breaks every 20 min-
utes or the moment aches
and pains start to make
their presence felt.
• Maintain good pos-
ture. Back injuries have a
tendency to linger, which
can keep gardeners
indoors and out of their
gardens. When gardening,
maintain good posture to
prevent back injuries.
Gardening back braces
can protect the back by
providing support and
making it easier for gar-
deners to maintain their
posture.
Tool pouches attached
to gardening stools also
can be less taxing on the
back than gardening belts
worn at the waist.
Gardening might not be
a contact sport, but it can
cause pain if gardeners do
not take steps to prevent
the onset of muscle aches
and strains when spend-
ing time in their gardens.
— Metro
DID YOU KNOW?
If you think that the only way to exercise and burn
calories involves gym equipment, think again. Yard
work can be just as challenging as a thorough aero-
bics workout at a nearby fitness club. To reap the
greatest benefits, gardeners should use as little
motorized machinery as possible. Manual tools
will get you moving and can burn a substantial
amount of calories. Try to vary positions and alter-
nate which hands you use to reduce strain and get
an even workout. Fitness experts say that garden-
ing can improve strength, increase endurance and
assist with flexibility. According to a report in the
UK publication The Telegraph, clearing a pond or
weeding can burn some 300 calories in an hour.
Forty-five minutes worth of gardening can burn as
many calories as 30 minutes of aerobics. — Metro
COURTESY PHOTO