Gardening is a rewarding activity, but safety shouldn’t be forgotten! Here’s how to cultivate a healthy and hazard-free garden:
- Avoid repetitive motions. Digging, pruning, planting, and raking should be divided into 15-minute chunks and interspersed with other activities.
- Wear proper PPE. Protect your hands with a quality pair of gardening gloves and wear proper footwear to help combat fatigue as well as physical injuries.
- Protect yourself from sun damage. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outdoors, reapplying regularly. Wear sunglasses with UV protection and a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and eyes.
- Avoid overuse injuries. Get ready to garden by walking a few laps around the garden and stretching. Lift heavy objects by bending at the knees. Avoid anything that puts you in an uncomfortable position.
- Use proper gardening tools. Help lower your risk of injury by using the proper tools for each task.
- Be realistic about tasks and be gentle with your body. It’s important to be realistic about how long gardening tasks will take. Plan to work at a slow, comfortable pace and take plenty of breaks to rest and hydrate.
You can also find Heat Safety information, including all of our summer series Daily posts, on our myDSU page.
Questions? heidi.fleming@desales.edu