LAWN AND GARDEN SAFETY

Will you be doing yard work this weekend?  If so, members of the Hickory Fire Department want to remind residents of safe practices to follow to avoid an injury when doing lawn and garden projects this season.

• Wear proper eye protection when using power tools; avoid loose or dangling clothing that can be caught in moving parts; use earplugs with loud equipment.
• Keep mowers and power tools "off limits" to young children.
• Store pesticides and all lawn products in original packaging on high shelves or inside locked cabinets.
• Store ladders, rakes, forks, clippers and other tools properly; return them to storage after use.
• Keep children well away when mowing and never let them ride on mowing tractors.
• Check the yard for broken limbs, stones and toys that can shoot out under the mower; wear closed-toe shoes when mowing to prevent injury.
• Refuel mowers and other gasoline-powered tools outside, when the motor is cool, and well away from lit cigarettes, sparks and flames.
• Never reach under a mower when it is turned on.
• Use gasoline as a motor fuel only; store gasoline in an approved, vented container, up high.

To learn smart tips for staying safe this spring and year round, contact the Hickory Fire Department at (828) 323-7521.