Lawn, garden care have hidden hazards Published June 19, 2006 60th Medical Group Safety TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The winter rains are starting to subside, which means it’s time for you to get outdoors to finally attack that “To Do” list of chores before you get that yard work “nastygram” from the base housing office or your local town mayor. However, before you fire up the mowers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds consumers to practice safety and common sense when working in their yards and gardens. Each year, about 230,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries relating to various lawn and garden tools. Each year, about 75 people are killed and about 20,000 are injured on or near riding lawnmowers and garden tractors. One out of every five of these deaths involves a child. The CPSC estimates that most of the deaths to children occurred when a child was in the path of a moving mower. “We want to do everything possible to prevent you and your family from becoming one of these statistics,” said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. “Part of our job is to make sure that the lawn and garden equipment consumers use is safe, but consumers must do their part to care for their own safety.” Take these following precautions to prevent injuries from lawn and garden equipment: - Be sure you know how to operate the equipment - Know where the controls are and what they do - Don’t remove or disable guards or other safety devices - Dress appropriately for the job This includes: - Sturdy shoes with slip-resistant rubber soles - Long pants and long-sleeved shirts - Close fitting clothes - Eye protection - Heavy gloves - Hearing protection when needed - No jewelry, which can get caught in moving parts - Before starting, walk around the area in which you will be working to remove any objects like sticks, glass, metal, wire and stones that could cause injury or damage equipment - Never take a child for a ride on a garden tractor or riding mower - Keep children indoors and supervised at all times when any outdoor power equipment is being used. Young children move quickly and are attracted to mowing activity - Never assume children will remain where you last saw them - Be alert and turn off the mower if children enter the mowing area - Use extra care when backing up or going around corners, shrubs, trees or other obstacles - Never work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions - For protection against electrocution, use a ground fault circuit interrupter. GFCIs come in several models, including a portable plug-in type - Be sure that extension cords are in good condition, are rated for outdoor use and are the proper gauge for the electrical current capacity of the tool For more information, contact your squadron safety officer.