Spring into Safety: First Aid for Gardeners

The community garden I helped to run for 5 years.

The sun is out, the soil is warming, and the roses are calling. It’s springtime in Ōtautahi | Christchurch and all across Aotearoa | New Zealand. As we head back into our gardens, it’s a good time to brush up on a bit of practical first aid. Because while gardening is great for our wellbeing, it can also bring a few seasonal hazards.

Rose Pruning - A Real Pain

If you’ve ever tangled with a rose bush, you’ll know how sharp those thorns can be. Small scratches might not seem like much, but they can get infected quickly, especially if you’ve got soil under your nails.

What to do:

• Wash the cut gently with clean water and mild soap.

• Cover it with a plaster if it’s in a spot that will keep getting dirty.

• Keep an eye out for redness, swelling, or pus, these are all signs it’s not healing well.

• If you’re on blood thinners or have diabetes, take extra care and seek advice early.

Bee Stings – Buzzing Back to Life

With the warmer weather, bees and wasps are out and about again. Most stings are painful but harmless. The trouble is when someone has an allergy, then it can become serious very quickly.

What to do:

• If the sting is from a bee, gently scrape the stinger out with your fingernail or the edge of a card (don’t squeeze it).

• Reminder that wasps keep stinging, and there is no stinger to remove. Get yourself safe and follow the same protocols below

• Apply a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth to reduce pain and swelling.

• If you feel dizzy, short of breath, or develop swelling around the face or throat - call 111 straight away. That could be anaphylaxis.

• If you carry an adrenaline injector (like an EpiPen), use it without delay.

Flying Debris – A Garden Surprise

Here’s one you might not think about, I certainly didn't until it happened to me. A stone flicked out by the mower, hit me in the lower leg and it burst a varicose vein! Thankfully I knew what to do, even though I was in the community garden alone that day and I was even more grateful I had my phone in my pocket, in case I needed to call an ambulance.

Garden machinery can send things flying at speed, and the injuries can be surprising.

What to do if a vein starts bleeding:

• Apply firm, direct pressure, doing this with your own hand is quickest (gloved when applying pressure for someone else.)

• Sit down and keep holding the pressure.

• If bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of steady pressure, call 111.

For eyes or other injuries from flying debris:

• If something is stuck in the eye, don’t rub, flush it out with water if possible. If not cover it lightly and get urgent medical help. Remember though, if the good eye is moving, the covered eye will also be moving.

• Always wear protective glasses when mowing, trimming, or using power tools.

A Final Tip for the Season

Just like we care for our plants, it pays to care for ourselves. Pop a small first aid kit in your garden shed or garage so you don’t have to run inside for supplies. Gloves, glasses, sunscreen, and water are also great garden tools! And have your phone nearby if you need help from emergency services.

This spring, enjoy your garden, but keep yourself safe too.