Gardening Safety

Gardening – Stay Safe in the Sun

Any form of energetic exercise carries risks when you are exposed to the sun _ s radiation or high heat levels for extended periods. When gardening, it is easy to lose track of time and not be aware of the effects of the sun.

• Regularly drink copious amounts of water to replace fluid lost through perspiration. This is much better than waiting until you feel thirsty.

• Water is always the drink of preference. Drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine can actually makes things worse by causing you to lose even more fluid.
• Take regular breaks to give your body the chance to restore its proper balance. Frequent, short breaks are much better than working until you feel tired and have to take a break.
• If you start to feel dizzy, have a headache or become slightly confused, this can be an indication of heat-related illness and you should stop work immediately. If you don _ t recover with rest fairly quickly, seek professional medical advice.
• People who are particularly at risk when working (or playing) in the sun are the elderly and young children. Consequently, you should be watching out for them as well as yourself.