Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about the start of the summer holiday season. Summertime often means relaxing or playing outdoors, and creating a nice outdoor environment may mean working on the lawn or garden. Make sure you do so safely.
More than 200,000 people are injured every year in accidents involving lawn and garden tools, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Maureen Finnegan, an orthopaedic surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says most of these injuries can be prevented if people use common sense and pay attention to what they’re doing when using these tools. When you mow the lawn, wear sturdy shoes, not sandals or flip flops. Check the lawn for debris before you mow — things such as stones or sticks can be thrown by lawnmowers. Turn off the mower before clearing the blades if something gets caught.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/orthopedics to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in orthopedics.
