Do-it-Yourself Projects Can Prove Dangerous

Submitted by Advocate Christ Medical Center. Photo via Shutterstock.

It’s nearly spring. If you are a homeowner, that means, of course, time to begin those do-it-yourself (DIY) house projects – you know, the kind that help you avoid the cost of hiring contractors and handymen because you think you can handle such projects yourself.

Sounds frugal, right? Well, maybe not so much.

That’s because unless simple, common sense precautions are observed, DIYs can prove downright dangerous and result in a trip to the nearest hospital for some expensive health care, according to emergency medicine physicians.

Home hazards include inappropriate use of cleaning and paint solvents and gardening solutions, failure to adhere to safety guidelines for ladders and power tools, and improper storage of tools and chemicals.

“Every year, we treat patients who have been injured at home while trying to undertake household projects,” says Brian Sayger, D.O., chair of emergency medicine at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill.

Injuries can range from minor lacerations that require simple suturing to more serious problems, such as fractures, head trauma, eye injuries, amputated fingers, poisoning and burns caused by dangerous mixing of household cleaners or motor and paint solvents, falls from ladders and roofs, improper use of power tools like nail guns and saws, and a general failure to “read instructions” before proceeding with a project.

Of the estimated 43 million do-it-yourselfers in this country, as many as one in five ends up at a hospital each year as a result of injuries incurred while working on a home project, according to the Home Safety Council. The figure does not include the thousands of other homeowners who suffer minor cuts, abrasions and falls that may not require a trip to the emergency room.

Falls from ladders are a leading cause of home-related injuries. In a report issued a few years ago, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicated that nearly 250,000 persons are treated in a hospital emergency department annually as a result of injuries sustained in falls from ladders or step stools. Everything from wearing the correct shoes to proper placement of a ladder to the positioning of oneself while on a ladder are key factors in minimizing the risk of a fall, experts say.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sayger tells do-it-yourselfers to read all instructions before beginning a project. “The purpose of product labels is to minimize your risks. Read the labels and follow the recommendations.” Instructions often call for the product user to wear safety glasses, protective gloves and clothing and even a mask. Many household chemicals, for example, are corrosive, meaning they can burn the skin and cause permanent eye damage if splashed. Pesticides and herbicides applied to lawns can be absorbed through the skin or lungs and affect nerves.

Some of the chemicals in common consumer products are known cancer-causing agents and must be used cautiously and in well ventilated areas. Those who fail to follow instructions for handling chemicals and solvents may experience difficulty in breathing, dizziness, watery or itchy eyes, skin rashes or burns, and nausea, Dr. Sayger says.

Emergency medicine physicians offer these additional key safety tips:

• Know how to use power tools properly and safely. Make sure the power button is in the “off” position before plugging a tool into an electrical source.
• Keep knives and cutting tools sharp. Dull blades require more force and increase the risk for injury. Use knives only for the appropriate tasks of cutting, slicing or chopping.
• Protect your eyes. Some 30,000 individuals suffer eye injuries every year because of failure to wear protective goggles, according to the College of Optometrists.
• Be especially cautious when using yard and garden equipment, such as lawnmowers and weed cutters. Make sure equipment is turned off before attempting to adjust it. Tripping over hoses is another hazard, especially among those who are age 65 and older.

Most importantly, if the project seems too daunting – or dangerous – to go it alone, then the homeowner should consider hiring a professional.

“Home projects are rewarding and worth doing yourself when you can do them properly,” Dr. Sayger says. “However, knowing your limitations and paying attention to the task at hand will avoid a costly trip to the emergency room.”

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