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CDCGardeningHealthandSafetyTipsFamilyHealth

GardeningHealthandSafetyTips

Gardeningcanbeagreatwaytoenjoytheoutdoors,get
physicalactivity,beautifythecommunity,andgrownutritiousfruitsandvegetables.Ifyouarea
beginnerorexpertgardener,healthandsafetyshouldalwaysbeapriority.
Belowaresometipstohelpkeepyousafeandhealthysothatyoucanenjoythebeautyandbounty
gardeningcanbring.

Dresstoprotect.
Gearuptoprotectyourselffromlawnandgardenpests,harmfulchemicals,sharpormotorized
equipment,insects,andharmfulraysoftoomuchsun.
Wearsafetygoggles,sturdyshoes,andlongpantstopreventinjurywhenusingpowertools
andequipment.
Protectyourhearingwhenusingmachinery.Ifyouhavetoraiseyourvoicetotalkto
someonewhoisanarm'slengthaway,thenoisecanbepotentiallyharmfultoyourhearing.
Wearglovestolowertheriskforskinirritations,cuts,andcertaincontaminants.
UseinsectrepellentcontainingDEET.Protectyourselffromdiseasescausedbymosquitoes
andticks.Wearlongsleevedshirts,andpantstuckedinyoursocks.Youmayalsowantto
wearhighrubberbootssinceticksareusuallylocatedclosetotheground.
Loweryourriskforsunburnandskincancer.Wearlongsleeves,widebrimmedhats,sun
shades,andsunscreenwithsunprotectivefactor(SPF)15orhigher.
SpringandSummerOutdoorSafety(/Features/MovingOutdoors/)

Putsafetyfirst.
Poweredandunpoweredtoolsandequipmentcancauseseriousinjury.Limitdistractions,use
chemicalsandequipmentproperly,andbeawareofhazardstoloweryourriskforinjury.
Followinstructionsandwarninglabelsonchemicalsandlawnandgardenequipment.
Makesureequipmentisworkingproperly.
Sharpentoolscarefully.
Keepharmfulchemicals,tools,andequipmentoutofchildren'sreach.
InjuryPreventionandControl(/homeandrecreationalsafety/)

Knowyourlimitsintheheat.
Evenbeingoutforshortperiodsoftimeinhightemperaturescancauseserioushealthproblems.
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Monitoryouractivitiesandtimeinthesuntoloweryourriskforheatrelatedillness.
Ifyoureoutsideinhotweatherformostofthedayyoullneedtomakeanefforttodrink
morefluids.
Avoiddrinkingliquidsthatcontainalcoholorlargeamountsofsugar,especiallyintheheat.
Takebreaksoften.Trytorestinshadedareassothatyourbody'sthermostatwillhavea
chancetorecover.Stopworkingifyouexperiencebreathlessnessormusclesoreness.
Payattentiontosignsofheatrelatedillness,includingextremelyhighbodytemperature,
headache,rapidpulse,dizziness,nausea,confusion,orunconsciousness.
Watchpeoplewhoareathigherriskforheatrelatedillness,includinginfantsandchildren
uptofouryearsofagepeople65yearsofageorolderpeoplewhoareoverweightpeople
whopushthemselvestoohardduringworkorexerciseandpeoplewhoarephysicallyillor
whotakecertainmedications(i.e.fordepression,insomnia,orpoorcirculation).
Eathealthyfoodstohelpkeepyouenergized.
ExtremeHeat(http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.asp)
KeepYourCoolinHotWeather(/Features/ExtremeHeat/)

Tipsforpersonswithdisabilitiesandphysicalactivity.
Talktoyourhealthcareproviderifyouhavephysical,mental,orenvironmentalconcernsthat
mayimpairyourabilitytoworkinthegardensafely.
Ifyouhavearthritis,usetoolsthatareeasytograspandthatfityourability.Researchshows
that2hoursperweekofmoderatephysicalactivitycangiveyoumoreenergyandcanhelp
relievearthritispainandstiffness.
Ifyouaretakingmedicationsthatmaymakeyoudrowsyorimpairyourjudgmentorreaction
time,dontoperatemachinery,climbladders,ordoactivitiesthatmayincreaseyourriskfor
injury.
Listentoyourbody.Monitoryourheartrate,leveloffatigue,andphysicaldiscomfort.
Call911ifyougetinjured,experiencechestandarmpain,dizziness,lightheadedness,orheat
relatedillness.
Arthritis:FrequentlyAskedQuestionsGeneralPublic(/arthritis/basics/faqs.htm)
GardeningTipsforEveryone(http://www.arthritistoday.org/dailyliving/doiteasier/inthe
garden/gardeningarthritis.php) (http://www.cdc.gov/Other/disclaimer.html)(ArthritisFoundation)

Enjoythebenefitsofphysicalactivity.
Gardeningisanexcellentwaytogetphysicalactivity.Activepeoplearelesslikelythaninactive
peopletobeobeseorhavehighbloodpressure,type2diabetes,osteoporosis,heartdisease,
stroke,depression,coloncancer,andprematuredeath.
Beactiveforatleast2hoursaweek.Includeactivitiesthatraiseyourbreathingandheart
ratesandthatstrengthenyourmuscles.Helpkidsandteensbeactiveforatleast1houraday.
Ifyouhavebeeninactive,startoutwithjustafewminutesofphysicalactivityeachday.
Graduallybuilduptimeandintensity.
Varyyourgardeningactivitiestokeepyourinterestandtobroadentherangeofbenefits.
PhysicalActivityandHealth(/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html)

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Getvaccinated.
Vaccinationscanpreventmanydiseasesandsavelives.Alladultsshouldgetatetanusvaccination
every10years.Tetanuslivesinthesoilandentersthebodythroughbreaksintheskin.Because
gardenersusesharptools,diginthedirt,andhandleplantswithsharppoints,theyare
particularlypronetotetanusinfections.
Beforeyoustartgardeningthisseason,makesureyourtetanus/diphtheria(Td)vaccinationis
uptodate.
Askyourhealthcareproviderifyouneedanyothervaccinations.
AdultImmunizationSchedule(/vaccines/schedules/index.html)
Tetanus(Lockjaw)(/tetanus/about/index.html)

RelatedLinks
GardeningFeature(/features/gardeningtips)
HealthyLawn (http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/lawncare.pdf)
(http://www.cdc.gov/Other/disclaimer.html)(EPA)
Pagelastreviewed:April22,2014
Pagelastupdated:April22,2014
Contentsource:CDCOfficeofWomen'sHealth

CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention1600CliftonRoadAtlanta,GA30329
4027,USA
800CDCINFO(8002324636)TTY:(888)2326348ContactCDCINFO

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