Your Health Matters
By Claudia Parks, R.N.

Last week I promised more facts, stories, and safety information relative to home accidents! In researching, it has proven amazing to me the number of and the seriousness of the injuries that take place in the yard and in the home. Each year, eight million are injured and another 30,000 die from home related accidents of which most could be avoided with a little preventive thought.

Accidents are the most common cause of death in children 14 years old and younger. In fact, accidents cause more childhood deaths than diseases, drugs or violence. Fortunately, many accidents- for both children and adults- can be avoided if simple safety measures are taken.

I couldn't help but put my brain in reverse and think back when I worked in the emergency room in a hospital located in an Atlanta suburb. The first few weeks of the early springtime always proved busy- home owners would get their garden tools and lawnmowers out. We would take a guess at how many lawnmower, rakes, shovel or hoe accidents we would care for on our shift. As the lawnmower industry started manufacturing safer lawnmowers- we had less serious accidents- thank goodness. I often think about how many people out there are walking around with two or three fewer toes. When you see a missing finger or two- think lawnmower, chainsaw, or table saw.

We continue to have an increase of accidental injuries- but we also have more people- that buy more tools (and some very powerful) and many don't know how to properly and safely use them! Last year there were approximately 36,000 serious chain saw accidents. There has been a 30 percent increase in nail gun accidents since the year 2000. We have more encouragement to do home improvement projects by all the home improvement stores who sell all those tools- just for you! Only 25 percent of the purchasers read the direction on how to use their new tool! (I realize I'm preaching to the choir- you're reading this- which makes you a cut above!)

Another scary concern for the DIY consumer is the use of the ladder! There is an average of 150,000 ladder injuries seen in emergency rooms each year- males account for 77 percent. Fractures were the most common type of injury, and legs, feet and back were the most frequently injured parts of the body. Men! If you have your wallet in your hip pocket (or anything) you should remove this- since a fall on it- can do a lot of painful damage to your butt or hip! Make sure any ladder that you plan to use is in good repair and is still sturdy. Don't use a ladder alone- have a buddy who will watch and can summon help if you fall. Many people who fall alone and are injured may not be found for hours. Keep a cordless/ cell phone handy to call for help if necessary.

SAFETY SUGGESTIONS: Use protective goggles, clothing, gloves, and ear protection when it is advisable. Don't mow the lawn in sandals or flip-flops or use a chainsaw without protection. It takes just moments to don protective gear and you might save an eye, finger, toe, or prevent serious injuries.

Be sure you know what you're doing and that you know how to use the tool. If power tools are something new, consider taking a class. Many home improvement retailers offer free classes in how-tos.

Keep tools away from children until they are old enough to use them properly.

There are pages and pages of safety info that you should know about- you can Google home safety or accidents and probably get more than you imagined! It would be a good idea- they have information for seniors, children, infants and just about every area of your home.

A number of you have contacted me about my daughter's accident (that I wrote about last week). She had a serious injury to her foot; ankle and leg and had a surgical repair. She will be listed as one of the statistics for "an injury from wearing only socks and hurrying on a slick floor". She is improving, however still a long while until she will be allowed to put weight on her foot and leg. Probably four to five months before she can drive- I told her "Look at all the gasoline money you are saving!"

Claudia Parks, RN, is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband make their home in the beautiful north Georgia Mountains, near Blairsville. Claudia can be reached at yhm@windstream.net.