Page 37 - ALG 1.21

readers articles Site safety
Further to Wyn Marshall (Defibrillators on Sites) in issue 4, defibrillators on sites would be a great step forward. They are definitely
a lifesaving device and are really foolproof to use. However, siting one can be problematic on some sites, particularly with vandalism in mind. It is important in the case of a cardiac arrest not to waste any time. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) must start immediately and during the current Covid pandemic it
is advisable to do chest compressions only, without rescue breaths. Outside of a pandemic situation, individuals trained to do CPR use a form of resuscitation face shield. I carry one on my key ring, fitted with a one- way valve that is cheap and disposable for administering mouth to mouth resuscitation. There are many first aid courses run by voluntary organisations such as St. John Ambulance Brigade, British Red Cross. Attending one in the winter is ideal but under the present situation this could prove difficult.
It might be worth considering, when things get back to some sort of normality, to invite someone to one of your meetings to give a talk on first aid and life-saving techniques. It
does make a change and one of the voluntary services are normally happy to oblige. It also helps the hard-pressed secretaries when looking for speakers. I have often dedicated part of my gardening presentations to basic first aid, simply because hazards exist in anything or any hobby and allotment sites are no different.
First aid kits are usually available where people collect so why not allotment sites? A standard first aid kit should be kept on site with all the necessary information clearly displayed in case of an emergency: the address and postcode of the site can be quickly passed to the emergency services so an ambulance can immediately be dispatched to where it is needed. Some sites are notoriously hard to find so it is important
in an emergency to have someone dispatched to the end of the street ready to direct the ambulance, saving valuable minutes.
Where most allotment sites fall down is the lack of basic hygiene facilities, such as toilet or hand washing facilities. Stopping for a lunchbreak helps restore energy after digging etc. but don’t forget to wash your hands first using a bucket of water and soap, particularly
after handling manure. Keep a hand-sterilising gel handy in the shed. Is your tetanus booster up to date? Tetanus, ‘lockjaw’ is rife in soil and manure amongst other things. Always wash your produce thoroughly before use.
Contact dermatitis can be a problem for some gardeners, including me. I have to be careful when I am around tomato plants, but it does not affect my enjoyment of growing them. Contact with parsnip leaves brings one of my gardening friends out in a rash, but once again it does not stop him growing them and winning prizes at major shows, including Chelsea Flower Show. We just make sure to wear long sleeves and
we have no problem. ‘Strimmer dermatitis’
is still relatively unknown – this happens
when operating a strimmer in shorts, or thin trousers, and as the machine rips through the weeds it throws up sap, spraying it everywhere, including the operator’s legs. A few hours or even days later, an irritating rash could appear, requiring a trip to your GP. So, with just a little care we can all stay safe, and enjoy our hobby.
Rob Foster
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Allotment and Leisure Gardener 37