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Safety Patrol: 3 Tips To Prevent DIY Injuries

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Each year, urgent care centers and hospital emergency rooms see to homeowners and their handy helpers for a variety of injuries sustained during DIY home improvement projects, ranging from lacerations to falls. Don't let your visions of a perfect dream home lead you to a DIY project nightmare. Learn and practice these three tips to prevent accidents when working on your home improvements.

1. Wear The Right Footwear

If you are going to engage in some home improvement projects, make sure that everyone present on the work scene is wearing the proper footwear. The mercury may be rising in the midst of summer, but save those sandals for the beach. Work boots are the most sensible choice for the following reasons:

  • Work boots provide sturdy protection with reinforced toes to reduce the risk of broken bones if a heavy piece of machinery or material falls on your foot.
  • Their soles are designed to provide better traction to grip surfaces and reduce your risk of slips and falls.

Never work on home improvement projects while barefoot. Walking through the inevitable mess of debris in the work area will result in nasty cuts if you trod on broken glass or a stray nail.

2. Protect Those Peepers

You only get one pair of functioning eyes to last throughout your lifetime, so it is up to you to protect them. Nobody who will be working on the scene of a DIY project should be without safety glasses or goggles. This inexpensive piece of protective gear will shield your eyes from the following:

  • Burns from splashing cleaners and other chemical products
  • Debris from flying sawdust, plaster particles, and wood chips
  • Scratches from branches when working outdoors around vegetation

If you wear prescription eyeglasses to correct a visual deficit, do not rely on them to protect your eyes. Safety goggles are designed to wrap around to protect your eyes from the side as well as in the front.

3. Exercise Ladder Safety Rules

Each year, thousands of Americans sustain ladder-related injuries that require medical treatment. Whenever you need to use a ladder, follow these important safety guidelines:

  • Do not stand on the top rung of the ladder.
  • Make sure the ladder is securely positioned so that it does not shift or teeter under your weight and activity.
  • Do not stretch to reach or hang beyond your arm's length.
  • Do not use a metal ladder if you are going to be exposed to electrical currents.
  • Never allow a second person to climb up on the ladder with you.

DIY projects are a satisfying way to save money and to feel accomplished. Avoid having to spend that saved money on copays and other medical bills by practicing common sense and the aforementioned safety tips that will help to keep you out of the urgent care center. Of course, if you are injured, seek medical help right away.


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