How to Create a Gardener’s First Aid Kit

 

 

Whether you’re a keen gardener or just like to potter in the garden every now and again, it’s a good idea to have a basic garden first aid kit to hand in case of small accidents. You could include this with your household first aid kit or keep a separate one in your garden shed, greenhouse or garage so that it’s close to hand should you need it. If you plan to store your first aid kit outdoors, choose a suitable container that is waterproof and rust proof so that the contents stay dry and are ready to use whenever you need them.

 

Whether you are stung by a bee, cut yourself pruning, or develop a rash;having a first aid kit close to hand will help quickly make you more comfortable.

 

Here are some of the common garden health hazards you may want to consider when putting together a garden first aid kit:

 

Sunburn – have a mini bottle of sunscreen or sunblock wipes handy for hot days. In fact, even on a cooler day it’s a good idea to protect yourself from the sun if you plan to spend several hours outdoors.

 

Backache – It’s common to suffer from backache or joint pains after a long day in the garden. Painkillers such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are therefore a useful addition to your first aid kit.

 

Scratches – Small scratches can be cleaned with an antiseptic wipe, then apply a plaster to keep the scratch clean.

 

Pricks and Splinters – tweezers are useful for removing small thorns and splinters.

 

Insect bites– Have an insect bite and sting product in your first aid kit such as a cream designed to take the discomfort out of insect bites. You may also want to use insect repellent wipes or ointments to keep insects at bay.

 

Rashes– Some garden plants can cause skin rashes. An antihistamine tablet could ease the inflammation, itchiness and discomfort. If the rash is more serious, seek medical advice.

 

Blisters – blisters can be common – either on your feet from your gardening shoes or on your hands from using garden tools. A blister plaster can ease the discomfort.

 

Hayfever – if you suffer from hayfever, you may find it gets worse after a day gardening. Make sure you have a good supply of your usual hayfever medication. Some people find that rubbing a small amount of Vaseline around their nostrils can help prevent hayfever symptoms.

 

Dehydration – not part of your first aid kit necessarily – but ensure you have a bottle of water to hand to keep you well hydrated when working in the garden. This is particularly important on hot days when it’s easy to fall victim to sunstroke.

 

Of course, if you suffer from a more serious gardening accident or illness, you should always seek professional medical advice straightaway.

 

For more information about preventing accidents in the home and garden, visit: www.rospa.com

 

Categories: aid kit, garden, hand, hot days, insect, insect bites, kit nbsp, medical advice, nbsp

Know Your Sun Risk

 

We all know that it’s important to wear sun protection when sunbathing abroad to protect against the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. But when at home, particularly in cooler climates, it’s easy to forget that our skin may still need protection.

If you are fair-skinned or spend large parts of your day outside, it is particularly important to protect your skin against sun damage – even in the UK. Some people are more at risk than others and so it’s important to know your sun risk.

 

Outdoor workers
If you have a job that means you work predominantly outdoors such as a gardener or labourer; you will be exposed to the sun for a large part of the day – including the times when the sun’s rays are at their most powerful. Protect yourself by wearing sunscreen at work and cover up with a t-shirt and hat. Remember that even when there is cloud or a cool breeze, the sun’s rays can still burn. The best sunscreens are those with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

 

Fair skin
The harmful effects of the sun vary depending on your skin type and people with fair skin are known to be most at risk from sunburn. If you have fair skin, it may be worth using a sun protector all year round. If you don’t want to put thick sun creams on your face, there is a wide range of moisturisers available containing sun protector. These will not only protect against UV rays but will also help safeguard against dry skin and wrinkles caused by the sun.

 

Children
Young people are particularly susceptible to sunburn as their skin is more delicate. They may also spend a lot of time playing outside and probably won’t recognise the telltale signs that their skin is starting to burn until it is too late. Ensure children wear a sunscreen especially designed for children and teach them to cover their skin and wear a hat in hot weather.

 

Treating sunburn
If you’ve spent too long in the sun and have developed sunburn, the effects can range from a mild tingle to a very painful hot sensation. Unfortunately, once the skin has burnt, the long-term damage has already occurred. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the discomfort and try prevent the skin from peeling. For mild sunburn, there is a range of after-sun products which will help cool the skin and keep it moisturised. Calamine lotion is also a good treatment. If the sunburn is more severe, has blistered, or is on a child, then you should seek medical advice.

Treatment for sunburn aims to cool the skin and relieve any pain. Applying a cold flannel over the area will help cool the skin, while moisturising lotions and creams will help keep it moist.

 

 

Sunburn can sometimes be accompanied by sunstroke which is a serious condition where the body’s core temperature rises to a dangerous level and can cause nausea, vomiting, fainting and in severe cases unconsciousness or even death. If you suspect someone is suffering from sunstroke, you should seek medical advice straightaway.

 

 

For more information about staying safe in the sun, visit: www.sunsmart.org.uk/

 

Categories: harmful effects, medical advice, seek medical, skin, sun protection, sun protector, sun risk, Sunburn, uv rays

How Risky Is Salmonella To Your Wellbeing?

Salmonella is a form of bacteria which can lead to food poisoning. Generally, food poisoning causes gastroenteritis which is an infection in the intestine which can lead to vomiting and diarrhoea. There are certain foods which are more prone to harbouring salmonella, usually in the gut of animals, such as poultry meat, eggs, milk and other dairy products. The infection usually causes mild symptoms, but these have side effects which can lead to complications in the body. For example, you will have a lack of fluid, which can be damaging for your health – the best way to combat this is to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Antibiotics are usually prescribed as well, in order to fight the infection. The Food Standards Agency in the UK has listed the 4 Cs to help people avoid food poisoning, which includes that caused by salmonella. This includes general hygiene in the kitchen to ensure work surfaces are kept clean and chopping boards which have been used for raw products are washed thoroughly, as well as making sure you use fresh foods which are in date and stored correctly.

Salmonella is caused by food becoming contaminated by germs or microbes, poisons or toxins, or chemicals. Microbes include viruses, bacteria and parasites – these are living things which live within or on another organism. There are over 2,500 different forms of salmonella, one of which can cause typhoid fever. This serious disease can actually prove to be fatal if it isn’t treated quickly, characterised by stomach cramps, headache, high temperature and a skin rash – patients with this illness will also feel nauseous and have a loss of appetite. Another form of the bacterial infection is the beginnings of paratyphoid fever – this is a similar illness but shows milder symptoms. Salmonella is spread by poorly cooked foods which are breeding grounds for the bacteria, where cooking has failed to kill the bacteria. People commonly associate it with raw or under-cooked eggs, but it can also be spread by poultry meat and milk. If other foods have touched the bacteria, they too will become infected.

The symptoms of salmonella include diarrhoea and stomach cramps, and you may feel nauseous. Some people also have a high temperature – the symptoms tend to come on within 12 to 72 hours of eating the infected foods. The time before this stage is known as the incubation period. Most people find that their symptoms improve within four to seven days of becoming ill, with no real treatment besides resting and drinking plenty of fluids. If you suspect that you or your child is becoming dehydrated, you should seek medical advice from your GP or a medical professional as soon as possible – it’s easily prevented from ensuring you drink plenty of water. You’ll be able to spot the signs from being thirsty more than usual, darker urine and passing less urine when you go to the toilet, and from weakness. You may also have a dry mouth and feel lethargic. In some circumstances, you may need to seek medical advice in order to confirm if you have food poisoning. Your GP or nurse may ask you questions about whether you’ve taken any recent trips or foods you’ve eaten which may have triggered the infection. They will also check your dehydration levels, your temperature, pulse and blood pressure. Some also check the abdomen for any tenderness. In some cases it may be necessary to provide a stool (faeces) sample for testing, to see if any bacteria is present. Salmonella is generally diagnosed from such a sample which is sent to a laboratory for testing – food is also tested in times of outbreaks.

Categories: drink plenty, feel nauseous, Food, Food Poisoning, high temperature, medical advice, poultry meat, Salmonella, seek medical, stomach cramps