Last Updated on October 8, 2022 by Real Men Sow
The summer months are the perfect time to re-acquaint yourself with your garden, as the sunny and bright weather makes working outside a little more appealing. But looking after your garden can be dangerous in the summer, especially with unpredictable weather patterns posing new risks to gardeners. How can you stay safe while gardening?
Cover Up
The summers are “heating up” in Europe and beyond, with many countries seeing significant increases in heat levels above their normal average. The UK has already experienced a record heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in some places. These weather patterns can be dangerous to those working outside and much higher than average summer weather.
As such, you should dress appropriately for work in warm weather. Contrary to conventional wisdom, short sleeves and high hems can cause more harm than good when it comes to cooling down. Longer layers can keep your sweat from evaporating, enabling you to regulate your temperature better and reducing the speed at which you dehydrate.
A sun hat or baseball cap can help shade your face from the sun’s rays and prevent sunburn. But even with layers and a large hat, you should liberally apply sun cream to avoid sun damage.
When You Work, Choose Carefully.
Even with the right clothes and the right attitude to safety, the hottest parts of the day can be a difficult time for strenuous activity of any kind – including the simple act of tending to your flowerbeds. Working in heat can increase your fatigue levels and even lead to heatstroke if you aren’t careful. It may be wiser to rest indoors on hotter days until the midday sun passes and the heat dissipates a little.
Prepare for Potential Injury
Of course, the heat isn’t the only risk you’ll face when undertaking your summer gardening. There are several garden hazards, from stinging plants to irritant chemicals in pesticides and other growth solutions. You may also injure yourself with your tools. As such, you should make sure you have a first aid kit ready to tackle any potential injuries you suffer.
In some cases, you may injure yourself through no fault. It is more likely with powered tools such as hedge trimmers or lawnmowers, where a manufacturing fault could cause malfunction and injury. In these cases, you may be able to enter a personal injury claim and recoup some costs as compensation.
Stay Hydrated
Lastly, and most importantly, you should ensure you are tending to your personal needs throughout your gardening session. Principally, it would be best if you were hydrating regularly. It is straightforward to become dehydrated when working outdoors, so make sure to fill a water bottle and drink from it regularly.
