Many people see gardening as a relaxing hobby, a relaxing way to spend hours outside when the weather is nice. But as a consultant emergency physician I deal with all sorts of emergencies and injuries in what turns out to be a harmless hobby.
Over the years I have seen hand and foot injuries from lawnmowers and garden forks. Over the past few weeks, I've seen head injuries from falling down stairs, falling onto concrete, and sadly recorded the death of a man whose kicking urges have been too much in recent years.
Even in the past, a garden could pose a health hazard. One of the first patients treated with penicillin was a policeman who reportedly contracted sepsis after scratching himself with a rose thorn. In those days, the smallest injury could be fatal, and it still is: a British woman recently died of sepsis after cutting her arm while gardening.
But these are not the only dangers lurking in your garden. Before you start caring for your plants, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
1. Tetanus
Tetanus is a particularly unpleasant disease. Muscle spasms are caused by toxins from the bacterium Clostridium tetani . The pain is almost indescribable, causing severe muscle spasms and jaw clenching.
Many people associate tetanus with rusty nails. But this common organism is also found in the soil, especially manure, as Clostidium is found in the intestines. Roses love manure, so if you cut them with an infected thorn or cut the soil, these beloved flowers can die.
Fortunately, I have yet to see a tetanus shot emergency in the UK. And I never want to see the case because it's disgusting. Mortality rates can be over 50% in unvaccinated individuals. That's why it's important to make sure your tetanus shot is up to date.
2. Bacteria and fungi
The humble compost bag hides an ingredient that many of us wouldn't expect: legionella .
These bacteria can cause an infection called Legionnaires' disease, which is especially dangerous for the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. If inhaled, it can cause nasty and often fatal pneumonia. The hot water involved in the composting process may explain their presence.
It's not just packaged compost that's dangerous. Your compost pile is also full of various bacteria and fungi that won't be a problem if you take good care of them. But when it's hot outside, Aspergillus molds often grow. It can lead to some nasty lung damage and even spread throughout the body, especially in the elderly and immunocompromised, and can be fatal.
Mold spores can cause allergies in some people, a condition known as exogenous allergic alveolitis or farmer's lung. This condition is usually caused by moldy grass, but compost heaps can also be the cause due to the presence of organisms such as Aspergillus and Actinomycetes bacteria.
3. Leptospirosis
Leptospira is a bacteria found in water contaminated with rat urine. Since rodents often make their homes near people, it's best to be careful when gardening around ponds or rain barrels.
Leptospira can cause leptospirosis, a rather nasty infection that causes headache, fever, chills, vomiting, jaundice, and then liver failure, kidney failure and meningitis.
4. Power tools
While tools can make our gardening easier, they can also make injuries easier. Hedge trimmers can be a good way to control trees and shrubs, but they can cut and injure fingers very effectively. Be sure to wait until the hedge trimmer has come to a complete stop before removing any branches you have removed.
Hedge trimmers and lawn mowers can easily cut electrical wires, causing electric shock. Power tools can also be dangerous if you fall down stairs, and if you have power lines running through your yard, avoid them.
be safe
While these hidden dangers certainly pose a risk, luckily there are some simple things you can do to avoid harm, including:
- Clean and cover wounds in gardening.
- Make sure your vaccinations are up to date (especially tetanus).
- Keep compost bags away from your face when opening them.
- To prevent rodents, do not put cooked food in compost piles, cover water tanks or set traps if you have an infestation.
- Install the ladder securely on a flat surface away from power lines.
- Enjoy wildlife, but leave it alone (snakes can be just as dangerous as rats).
And one last tip from me. Every year in my hospital's burn unit, several people try to speed up the process of barbecue or fire with gasoline. Not all survive. So if you plan to cook the fruits of your labor on a backyard barbecue, make sure you don't use flammable liquids to start the flame and have a fire extinguisher handy just in case.
Gardening is a rewarding hobby with many health benefits. Make sure you take reasonable precautions. 
Stephen Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University
This article is reprinted from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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