Be healthy and safe while gardening

Lovely scented flowers along with fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden are among the great pleasures of summer. Gardening is also a wonderful way to be physically active and to beautify your community. Although generally harmless, this activity can expose you to certain environmental risks. You can lower these risks by taking the following precautions:

• Cover yourself. Wear clothes, shoes, gloves and glasses to protect yourself from insects, garden chemicals, the sun, as well as sharp and pointy tools.
• When you are using garden chemicals or are manipulating sharp tools, think safety first. Limit all distractions.
• Prevent heat-related illnesses, particularly when it comes to the elderly. During a heatwave, make sure you drink plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages with low sugar contents. Avoid going outside when the sun is at its peak, and take breaks regularly. 
• Although sunlight is excellent for your plants, it is a lot less so for your skin. To protect your skin from the damages of the sun, avoid exposure to the midday sun, cover your skin and apply sunscreen generously on all exposed body parts.
• Get vaccinated. Vaccination can prevent a variety of diseases and save countless lives. Adults should get a booster tetanus shot every 10 years. Tetanus resides in the soil and infiltrates the body through scratches and wounds on the skin. Because gardeners manipulate the soil and often use sharp tools, they are particularly susceptible of contracting this infection. Tetanus assails the central nervous system and can even be deadly.

Gardening is a fantastic activity that will allow you to take full advantage of the benefits of physical activity. Individuals who are active have a lower risk of suffering from Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart diseases and osteoporosis, among others.