Lawn Smarts

Gardening isn’t what it used to be.

Long a popular pastime for those looking for a break from stress-filled lives, gardening is also known for the dangers that could be lurking beneath all that serenity, safety experts say.

They urge gardeners to protect themselves--and their children--by taking extra precautions.

“One minute, you’re doing the most benign thing, and the next, you end up with a major injury,” said Heather Paul, executive director of the National Safe Kids Campaign, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit group created 11 years ago.

The biggest threat of all is posed by the increasing number of power tools replacing manual ones, the authorities say.

Each year, about 230,000 people--about 1,500 of them children--are treated for accidents caused by garden tools. And about 75 die of their injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“It’s probably happening more now because there are many more people gardening,” said Judy Anderson, editor of the Gardener, a magazine published by Gardeners of America, which has 7,000 members nationwide.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s telephone hotline also warns about poisoning dangers: There have been numerous instances involving children who drink liquid pesticide, mistaking it for a beverage.

Lawn mowers, especially those you ride on, are largely responsible for accidents involving children. The height of some mowers can prevent an operator from seeing a child while the blades are running. Tragedies can also occur when children fall while being given a ride, experts say.

In one example cited by the National Safe Kids campaign, a 17-month-old boy from Reston, Va., had his leg amputated last year after his mother accidentally ran over him with a mower.

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Such accidents, the experts say, can be prevented by observing this simple rule: Keep children indoors while the lawn is being mowed.

Children “should not be in the garden while you’re mowing,” said Ken Giles, spokesman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Gardening-tool manufacturers say they are responding to concerns by creating safer machinery.

Some have gadgets that turn the machinery off when it strikes anything hard; others shut down when pressure is no longer applied to the tool’s handle.

Many lawn mower models large enough to be driven now include a clutch that halts the blades three seconds after operators raise themselves from their seat.

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In Orange County, lawn mower injuries are not common, said Stephanie Jones, clinical nurse and manager of emergency-room services at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana. Some say the low rate here could be due to the hiring of professional gardeners through homeowners associations.

But electric hedge trimmers have done more than their share of damage in the county, she said.

They are “a pretty lethal item,” she said.

The most common circumstance involves losing control of the trimmer when, for example, it gets caught in thick brush: The gardener fumbles to regain control, getting in the way of the quickly moving blades.

While hospital emergency rooms deal with most injuries caused by misuse of tools, telephone hotlines have become clearing houses for information on poisonings caused by pesticides.

Mishaps involving children are only a fraction of the calls to the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network, which runs the Environmental Protection Agency’s pesticide hotline.

“In my experience, it’s the pesticide users who cause the problems,” said Terry Miller, the hotline director.

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Many people don’t read, or ignore, instructions on the label, applying pesticide for roses onto vegetables, for instance. There is also a tendency to ignore instructions for dosages, following the principle that “more is better.”

“All pesticides are hazardous if they’re not used properly,” Miller said. “The trick is to minimize your exposure.”

Washing hands and clothes after usage is a good idea. Wearing long sleeves and pants is always recommended when gardening. Also be sure to keep tetanus shots up to date, the experts advise.

Gardeners shouldn’t be frightened away from a hobby they enjoy. They just need to take care.

“We do our best, but we can’t make a tool completely risk-free,” said Giles of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“It’s common sense,” Anderson added. “Use prevention measures, and garden in a safe manner.”

Weeding Out Risks

Some tips to keep in mind while you work in the garden.

PESTICIDES

*Store all pesticides out of reach of children and in their original, labeled containers.

*Read the safety label before use and follow all recommended safety precautions during and after use.

*Wash yourself and your clothes thoroughly with soap and water after each application. Never launder pesticide-contamined clothing with the family wash.

*Know what to do in case of an accidental poisoning.WHAT TO WEAR

*Dress properly when gardening: long pants, long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes, eye protection, gloves.

*Always keep children indoors and supervised when operating garden tools or spraying pesticide. Don’t allow children in the garden until pestcide is dry.

POWER TOOLS

*Keep all people away from the operator during use. At least one manufacturer recommends keeping people, including helpers, a minimum of 30 ft. away.

*Before starting, make sure blade is properly secured to the shaft. Replace damaged blades. Avoid cutting close to fences, sides of buildings and other obstacles.

*Never work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions.

*Unplug electric tools before making adjustments or clearing jams near moving parts.

*Be sure that tools are turned off and made inoperable if they must be left unattended.

LAWN MOWERS

*Before starting, remove any obstacles from the area you are going to mow.

*Use extra care when backing up or going around corners, shrubs, trees or other obstacles.

*Don’t turn on slopes. With the blade disengaged, turn slowly and gradually downhill.

*Don’t mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments.