Transcript Slide 1

Clothing
Maintaining Your Body
Tools
Plants and Animals
Preventing/Treating Injuries
Match clothing to weather and temperature
Proper shoes or boots to protect feet and
support ankles
Gloves, hats, kneeling pads
Knee braces or elbow supports to ease strain
on joints
Ear plugs when using noisy machinery
Safety goggles when appropriate
Drink plenty of water
Take breaks and change positions
Wear sunscreen
Maintain good posture; use proper lifting
technique (use legs, not back)
New, ergonomic tools are designed to
reduce muscle fatigue and injury
Use wheelbarrows or carts for heavy loads
Keep tools well maintained (sharpened,
oiled)
Use tools safely; particularly important for
machinery such as chainsaws,
lawnmowers, weed whackers. Also
ladders
Poisonous plants
Poison ivy and stinging nettle
Many plants are toxic to both humans and pets if eaten
Thorny plants; use gloves when handling
Stinging insects
Bees and wasps not near hives/nests are generally nonaggressive (Are you allergic to stings?)
Some caterpillars have stinging hairs
Unlikely, but be aware of rabies possibility in mammals
Stretch and strengthen to prevent muscle
soreness (see handout for diagrams) or
http://fairfaxmastergardeners.org/knwldgb/Gardening%20Articles/Oh_My_Raking_Back_and_Mulching_Muscles.pdf
Keep tetanus shots up-to-date
Injuries
Ice reduces swelling; heat improves circulation
Know when to see a doctor – most muscle
soreness can be treated at home; joint pain or
swelling can be symptoms of more serious
injuries