Five Spring Safety Tips

Wash Your Hands after Gardening 

When you’re gardening, you should be wearing gloves, especially if you’re pulling weeds that were previously sprayed by toxic weedkiller. Although you should be wearing gardening gloves, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to wash your hands afterwards. Plant foods, pesticides, supplements, weed killers, and other garden-enhancing wonders all contain chemicals that you likely don’t want to be ingesting. There are also the creepy crawly friends that lurk in the soil: not all of those are things you want in your stomach (in fact, most of them aren’t!)—and some of them are microscopic, so you wouldn’t necessarily know if you were about to put them in your stomach! While gardening gloves may add a layer of protection, washing your hands is the best way to make sure everything is washed off of your hands. Hand sanitizer is great for killing germs, but it won’t necessarily wash away chemicals or microscopic organisms like good ol’ soap and water. 

Get Your Wipers Replaced 

If you’ve got worn out wipers, you need to get those replaced as soon as possible. Rain can have a substantial impact on a driver’s visibility, especially if the rain is heavy. When the rain starts pouring, and you don’t have wipers, you might not be able to see enough to drive safely. Not everyone gets their wipers replaced often enough. If your wipers streak or smear when they’re wiping, that’s a sign that they’re wearing out. Wipers also shouldn’t make any noises while they’re on. If they’re making squealing or tapping noises, that may mean that it’s time to replace them. Wipers that have rubber pieces separating from the blade need to be replaced immediately. If one of your wipers comes off on the road, you’ll need to replace that as soon as possible. Attempting to use your wipers while one of the blades isn’t on can damage your windshield. Ideally, you should replace your wipers every six months. 

Don’t Assume It Won’t Snow 

If you live in a place where it snows, assume that it could snow, even in the spring. Many places see snow and or hail during what started out as a rain shower. If you’re planning a walk, hike, outdoor activity, or road trip, check the weather first. If rain is in the forecast, don’t immediately assume that snow won’t be there as well. Look into a detailed version of the forecast; don’t just look at the predicted high of the day and assume it will be like that all day long. If there will be rain that could turn to snow, plan around the weather by packing appropriately. If you’re driving, make sure that your car is capable of driving the distance, even in a snowstorm. If you’re hiking, make sure you’re dressed for the potentially sad weather. This means bringing a raincoat and wearing warm clothes and waterproof shoes. Where there’s snow, there could be ice! Keep this in mind if you’re walking or hiking: a slip and fall could be particularly devastating. 

Know When the Sun’s Setting 

It may be getting warmer, but it’s not summer yet. Don’t assume that it’s time to stay out late or go on one of your sunset hikes or sunset walks if you don’t know what time the sun is setting. If the sun tucks in earlier than you were expecting, your hike can be increasingly dangerous. If you’re walking in a particularly dark place, cars may not be able to see you, and this could be a safety hazard if there isn’t a sidewalk available. Hiking at night can be dangerous for even seasoned hikers. Do not hike at night, especially alone. When hiking at night, it’s easier to get lost and you’re more likely to run into creatures you may not want to encounter. It’s not unheard of for people who live in mountainous regions, such as Utah, to find mountain lions roaming around on popular trails. Some unfortunate people have had to call animal control due to mountain lions in their backyard! These creatures are most active at dusk—so get off the trails before then!  

Stay Safe at the Farmer’s Market 

Fresh fruit from the farmer’s market is one of the best parts about spring. However, it’s important to remember that you don’t know where the fruit was before you got it—nor do you know what it was sitting in. Do the people at the fruit stand know that they’re not supposed to sell ground fruit? You’d hope. Since you can’t be sure, it’s important to wash your fruits correctly, according to the CDC’s guidelines.  

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