Surviving Spring Fever

What we want to avoid are the sounds of emergency vehicles. A recent chat with a local hospital employee underscores the fact that emergency rooms see an increase in visits when the first welcome days of spring warmth break winter’s icy grip. Excitement about being outside enjoying the good weather often suppresses common sense and good judgment.

The common problem is that machines and humans have been less active during winter. Both need to be checked, warmed and perhaps spruced up before getting down to the work of warmer weather.

Whether you are going to exercise, play or work, a warm-up and stretch should be first on your list of things to do. Simply walking for 15 minutes will get the body machine going and stretching after warming will help loosen muscles and make activity easier and safer.

Jobs get done faster and safer with the right equipment. Start with your foundation. Even if you are working inside, good athletic shoes give you support and help keep you from slipping. Watch that laces are not dragging.

If you are working outside, especially with lawnmowers, footwear is incredibly important. Shoes protect your feet from debris in the yard but also give some protection from machines. Never go barefoot, wear flip-flop or sandals when using a lawnmower, even a push rotary or riding tractor.

Gloves are a great work fashion statement. They protect hands from scratches and cuts and give a better grip on tools and other equipment. When using cleaning products indoors or outdoors, gloves can prevent burns and rashes caused by the caustic chemicals.

When working outside, wear long sleeves and pants with the ends tucked into your socks. Don’t wear loose items that can get caught on the moving parts of equipment.

Check and maintain power tools. Cords should not be frayed or have any breaks or cracks. Sharpen blades on mowers and other cutting equipment. Make sure all parts move properly and safety features are working correctly.

When using any king of power equipment, wear protection for eyes and ears. Keep other people, children and pets well away from the area where you are working.

Pay attention. Power equipment is inherently dangerous and deserves your complete focus and respect.

When using any chemicals in your home, especially those used for cleaning, open the windows and allow good air flow. People with asthma should be very careful when using any products with harsh fumes. Check with your doctor to make sure it is safe to use these products.

Do not mix cleaning products or chemicals. Certain common chemicals when mixed produce poisonous fumes that can kill you, your children or your pets.

Chemicals change with time, temperature and exposure to moisture. Check for an expiration date.

Read the instructions even if the cleaner or other product is one you have used before. Directions and warnings can change and it is easy to forget or confuse proper usage of these products.

If you have any doubt about a product (especially if the label is faded or missing), dispose of the contents properly. That means, do not automatically flush it down the drain or pour it into the ditch. Check with your local waste disposal company to determine the proper way to dispose of chemicals.

If changing or replacing oil or fuel in equipment, be smart about disposing of these products. They do not belong in the sewer, the ditch, the ground or anything but a proper disposal container.

Be particularly careful with antifreeze. It can be irresistible to animals and children. If they ingest even a small amount, the chemical can cause severe injury and death.

Do not store chemicals in anything but appropriate containers. Do not store them in any container normally used to store water or drinks. It is too easy for children or adults to unknowingly drink something poisonous.

Keep the number for your local poison control handy. If you are outside and have a cell phone, put it in speed dial. If there is even a remote chance a person or pet has ingested a poisonous substance, call poison control for directions and dial 9-1-1 for help.

Do not attempt to handle the emergency yourself. Different poisons require different treatments and the wrong action can make the situation worse.

Even nature can cause problems. People are not the only ones happy to be out in the warm weather. Don’t put yourself, your hands or feet anywhere you can’t see. A trip to the emergency room for a snake bite, sting or other contact with a poisonous or toxic animal or plant can ruin your weekend – not to mention your life if the situation is serious.

Get into spring safely. That is the best way to survive this year’s attack of spring fever and make sure you enjoy all the benefits of the season.

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