Garden In Safety This Spring

12 March 2010

For many people, gardens can be a source of pleasure, relaxation and exercise. Unfortunately, they also house the potential for nasty accidents.

The thought of getting out in the garden after the long winter months - with longer days and milder weather - is very appealing, despite the often incessant rain showers.

With spring just around the corner, now is the time to get out of the house and into the garden to clear away and prepare the ground for a stunning display.

If you dress appropriately, gardening can be incredibly enjoyable in the spring and the physical activity will contribute to a healthy lifestyle. However, pottering in the garden can be more hazardous than you may realise.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), nearly 300,000¹ people each year are hurt in their gardens seriously enough to go to hospital, with the most common accident, affecting nearly 130,000 people, being a fall. Around 87,000 people are injured actively gardening or carrying out DIY jobs in the garden.

Preventative measures, such as clearing away tools after use, can easily up the ante on garden safety and many of these are common sense. As long as proper care is taken, accidents can generally be avoided. Older people though, may wish to take extra precautions.

As we get older the risk of falling increases, an 85 year old is five times more likely to have a fall than a 65 year old, and a fall can be just as likely in a garden as in the home.

Although many older people live alone, some can rely on regular visits from family, friends and neighbours; unfortunately others are without family or social contact.

For these older individuals, a personal alarm system can become a crucial support. A personal alarm can empower them with confidence and peace of mind that they can gain instant help should they have an accident or fall. It also helps them to maintain their lifestyle and enjoy the independence they value.

Age Concern’s personal alarm system, Aid Call, has supported older people in their homes and gardens for almost 30 years. Chris Last from Aid Call said: "While many accidents happen in and around the home, it’s important to remember that a garden also calls for the same level of attention.

"Not all accidents can be prevented and many older people would benefit from the comfort in knowing that they can call for help if they found themselves in need of assistance. A personal alarm is valuable in this situation."

Aid Call is a discreet personal alarm system that communicates via a telephone line. By pressing the button on the Aid Call pendant, help can be summoned any time of the day. It operates a two-way speech link to enable the person who has raised the alarm to talk to an operator within seconds.

The operator can then in turn contact their chosen keyholder - a friend, neighbour or relative - who will visit and offer assistance. If there is no contact available, the emergency services will be contacted.

The alarm is lightweight and can be worn around the neck as a pendant or as a wristband. It is waterproof, so importantly it can be worn at all times whether in the bathroom, kitchen or garden, and will operate up to a range of 50 metres.

Caroline’s mother in law had an Aid Call alarm system installed after she had a nasty fall in the garden when she was on her own. "My mother in law is a keen gardener and is now able to spend time outside with full confidence that should she fall, help is at the touch of button," she said.

"A personal alarm will make a real difference in the event of an accident but it helps to be mindful of potential risk areas and address them before an incident takes place," added Chris.

Although older people will benefit from a personal alarm to feel safer in the garden, everyone can benefit from following basic safety precautions. Aid Call offers these top tips:

- Avoid trip hazards such as uneven surfaces, loose paving slabs or unravelled hosepipes
- Use surfaces that provide a good grip underfoot
- Avoid the garden when conditions are icy and slippery
- Never work while standing on an unsteady surface such as a stool
- If you are working on a ladder make sure it is placed on a level surface. Ladders should be held or secured
- Check the ladder before using it for broken rungs or any other damage
- Don’t over-reach whilst working up a ladder. It is far safer to re-position the ladder
- Do not leave garden tools lying around, which could cause someone to trip and injure themselves
- Don't lift objects too heavy for you. When lifting heavy objects, let your legs do the bending and not your back.
- If you are unsure of the safety of tackling a job, call in the professionals

Sheila Merrill, RoSPA’s home safety manager for England, said: "When you spend time in the great outdoors, minor accidents like bumps and grazes are bound to happen. Thankfully, the consequences of many garden accidents are minor, but some are more serious and result in a trip to hospital.

"Good preparation is an easy way to prevent accidents, like making sure you have the right skills and tools for the job you want to do, making sure tools are in a good condition and putting on gardening gloves.

"Good footwear can not only prevent falls but should also prevent the painful injuries we hear about when people’s feet have got a bit too close to a fork, spade or, in some cases, even a lawnmower.

"Tools left lying around can also lead to accidents, so do try to tidy up when you’ve finished working.