Four Dangers Lurking in Your Garden – and How to Protect Yourself from Them

Many people find gardening relaxing – an effortless way to spend hours outdoors when the weather is nice. However, as an emergency medicine consultant, I deal with all sorts of medical emergencies and injuries resulting from what may seem like a harmless hobby.

Over the years I have seen hand lacerations from cutting tools and foot lacerations from lawnmowers and garden forks. In recent weeks I have seen falls from ladders, head lacerations from falls onto concrete – and, sadly, I have confirmed the death of someone in later years whose enthusiastic shovelling proved too much.

Even in the past, the garden could be a sedate health hazard. One of First patients treated with penicillin was a policeman who apparently contracted sepsis after being scratched by a rose thorn. In those days, the smallest wounds could have the most sedate consequences – and it turns out that it can still happen, with a woman in the UK recently dying of sepsis after scratching your hand while working in the garden.

But these aren’t the only dangers lurking in your garden. Here are a few things to look out for before you head out to tend to your plants:

1. Tetanus

Tetanus is a particularly nasty disease. Muscles spasm due to the action of a toxin from the bacteria, Clostridium tetani. This suffering is almost indescribable, causing painful muscle spasms and jaw locking.

Many associate tetanus with objects like rusty nails. But this surprisingly common organism is also found in the soilespecially if fertilized, because clostydia are found in the intestines. Roses like soil with fertilizer, so it can make these beloved flowers deadly if you cut yourself on contaminated thorns or if soil gets into a wound.

Luckily I haven’t seen a case in A&E yet because in the UK the tetanus vaccine is used. And I never want to see a case because it’s awful. The mortality rate can be over 50% in the unvaccinated. That’s why it’s essential to check that your tetanus vaccine is up to date.

2. Bacteria and fungi

Inside the humble compost bag lies an ingredient many of us don’t expect: Legionella.

This bacteria can cause an infection called Legionnaires’ disease: legionellosis which is especially harmful to the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. It can lead to a nasty and often fatal pneumonia when inhaled. Hot, standing water involved in the composting process may be responsible for its presence.

It’s not just pre-packaged compost that’s risky. Your own compost bin can also be filled with various bacteria and fungi that, if properly maintained, shouldn’t cause any problems. But mold is often Aspergillus can grow when it’s balmy outside. This can cause some nasty changes in the lungs and can spread throughout the body – especially in older and immunocompromised people – and can be fatal.

Mold spores can also cause allergies Some people develop a condition known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis or “farmer’s lung”. This condition has classically been caused by exposure to moldy hay, but compost bins can also cause the same thing due to the presence of organisms such as Aspergillus and bacteria Actinomycetes.

3. Leptospirosis

Leptospire is a bacterium that can be found in water contaminated with rat urine. Since rats often build nests near humans, it is best to be cautious around ponds or rain barrels when gardening.

Leptospire may cause leptospirosis, rather unpleasant infection causing headaches, fever, chills, vomiting, jaundice, followed by liver failure, kidney failure, and meningitis.

4. Power tools

While power tools can make gardening easier, they can also make it much easier to injure yourself. Hedge trimmers can be a great way to tame trees and shrubs, but they can also amputate fingers and inflict wounds very efficiently. Make sure you wait until the hedge trimmer is completely switched off before you start to remove the branches you have removed.

Hedge trimmers and lawn mowers can also easily cut through electrical cables, which can lead to electric shock. Power tools can also disastrous if you fall while climbing a ladder and if you have power lines crossing your gardenthen please avoid them.

Stay sheltered

While these hidden dangers certainly pose a risk, fortunately there are a number of uncomplicated things you can do to avoid harm from them, including:

1. Cleaning and dressing wounds during gardening.

2. Make sure your vaccinations are current (especially in the case of tetanus).

3. Maintenance compost bags away from your face when you open them.

4. Deter rats by not placing cooked food on them. compost piles, covering water barrels and setting traps if you have an infestation.

5. Set up the ladder stably on level ground, away from power lines.

6. Enjoy the view of wildlife, but leave it alone (snakes can be as risky as rats).

And one last piece of advice from me. Every year, the burns unit at my hospital sees many people who have tried to speed up the process of lighting a grill or a fire, using gasoline. Not everyone survives. So if you plan on cooking the fruits of your labor on a backyard grill, make sure you don’t exploit flammable liquids to featherlight the fire and have a fire extinguisher handy just in case.

Gardening is a rewarding hobby that has many health benefits. Just remember to take sensible precautions.