|
 June is Summer Safety Month
Gardening and
Your Health
Protecting Your Knees:
Squatting can put unnecessary strain on the knees if done incorrectly or for
long periods of time. When squatting, keep feet flat with weight evenly
distributed. Squatting with heels off the ground can potentially damage knee
ligaments. Preferred work positions would be having one knee on the ground,
working on hands and knees using a kneeling pad, or sitting on a chair or stool
If you use a chair or stool, place it close to the area where you are working
and use long handled tools to avoid straining the upper body. If a kneeling pad
is inconvenient to carry, then try using strap-on knee pads.
Protecting Your Back:
When
walking, keep a slight arch in the lower back, slightly tensing the abdominal
muscles, and don't slouch. sit with feet supported and knees level or
higher than hips. Use correct postures when doing garden chores such as
raking, shoveling, hoeing, etc. Always bend from the knees, never from the
waist. When lifting a large or heavy object: stand the object
upright; position feet shoulder-width apart, close to the object; squat or bend
at the knees; tighten stomach muscles; roll the object onto bent knees and then
up into arms; hold the object close to your body so that the thigh muscles are
doing most of the work, and slowly lift by straightening knees; lower loads by
reversing this process. Be careful when pushing or pulling heavy objects,
use arm or thigh muscles and not the back. Use large wheeled garden carts
and long handled tools to make work easier. Be aware of situations that
could lead to a fall such as wet lawn or loose gravel. Buy garden supplies
in small, light-weight bags.
Protecting
Your Hands:
Wear appropriate gloves and shoes when working in the
garden. When gloves get wet, charge them immediately. don't
let chemicals get on your skin a nd risk an allergic reaction or irritation.
Fertilizers are salts and pull moisture out of skin. Wear gloves and wash
hands immediately if fertilizers contact skin. To treat dry hands, apply
petrolatum, glycerin, or lanolin-based skin care products to damp skin.
Remember to work moisturizer around fingernail beds also after cleaning to
prevent skin cracks.
Protecting Your Feet:
Proper footwear is the best protection against wetness when gardening.
Look for shoes and boots that breathe and absorb perspiration from feet.
Good absorbent insoles are important to keep feet dry and can be purchased at
drugstores. When socks get too wet, change them immediately. Dust
your feet with a powder such as Drysol after gardening.
This information and more can be found at:
www.ext.vt.edu
a publication of the Virginia Cooperative Extension. |
