Safety Around the Homestead

Linda Bittle

Today I'm thinking about safety and how important it is to practice safe habits when working around the homestead.

As someone who has been single for a very long time, I've gotten pretty good at doing things myself. And I don't always think about my personal safety before I start a project. I'll just state right here that I keep my tetanus shots up to date because I know that I'm going to do something stupid on a regular basis. And if I think there's a fair possibility that I might get into trouble, I do make a point of emailing or texting someone about my plans, and to ask if they will check on me if I don't let them know that I've finished the dangerous part by a certain time.

Looking around my little in-town lot, there are still some things that have high potential for accidents, and I'm not even using chainsaws, axes, or farm machinery. Nor do I have livestock, which comes with unique opportunities for injury.

I'm talking about ladders (or chairs, if I'm too impatient to get the ladder), sharp objects and broken glass uncovered while working in the yard, ankle-busting holes in the yard, ragged chain link fencing with sharp ends, piles of rusting junk left by former owners, falling limbs from untended trees, a shed FULL of miscellaneous stuff (some useful to me, much not), electrical wires that hang a bit lower than I'd like - the back of the house is really short, in order that snow might slide off the roof and that's where the service lines come into the old house, broken sidewalks with toe-catching segments...the list goes on.

Having been pretty much continuously certified at one level or another in first aid since I was 20, I keep a good first aid kit on hand, and my cell phone in my pocket. And I try to think through the possible dangers of any task before starting in. It's those stupid, self inflicted injuries that hurt the worst.

Are you always thinking about safety on your homestead? Do you take precautions and let others know when you might be about to do something that could require rescue?

greyfurball

I am one of those who pretty much think thru every one of my projects before I even start.

So unless something happens which I did not anticipate, I've already got my "escape route" planned out in advance how I'm going to get around so and so IF it happens.

But all of this only works because I have been a DIY-er my entire life. Other than each project being a great learning experience (by my age there's not a whole lot of new projects I anticipate participating in), I only break down and ask for help if it's an emergency or if I absolutely know I want it done right the first time so there isn't any later service calls because I goofed up.

But even mistakes on a project can be and will be a great learning experience which eliminates the excessive worry about my own safety.

shllnzl

@Mary Linda Bittle When I saw your title, I said "Yes!" You are wise to keep others informed when you are off by yourself doing "mobile" activities. (I am sure there is a better word.)

I have had several accidents in the last several years that have humbled me.

Right before I retired from my job, dark AM after rain, mostly invisible object tripped me right after I had stuck both hands into my pockets looking for a relevant note = fell hard on my face and broke my nose + cuts = how to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Our cabin stairs are the same carpet as the floor = missed the last step more than once because I didn't see where the steps ended in the morning light. I only fell completely one time, luckily a soft landing with no injuries. I now have a different colored throw rug at the bottom of the stairs to help me differentiate surfaces.

I went to grab a difficult dog by the collar, he shifted his weight and threw me off balance, and I just barely kept from tumbling down a flight of stairs.

I missed the last step on an unfamiliar step stool and almost crashed while holding glass I had removed from a top shelf.

Simple activities can be unexpectedly dangerous. Running an errand in your car can be risky. I know someone who tripped in her bathroom, hit her head and couldn't get up. Her husband was asleep and didn't find her for hours -- she has short-term memory problems now.

Any time my husband is away from home overnight or longer, I let someone know that I am leaving the house or outside doing work where I am not visible from the street. My neighbor is in poor health and alone, so I make sure she is okay daily. I too keep first aid kits in house and car.

You are as prepared as anyone can be, and have done a good deed by reminding others to do the same.

ines871

@Mary Linda Bittle ,Interesting.

RE others: especially Babies, anyone Handicapped, or Elderly: I regard everyone ELSE as Vulnerable, even Fragile, & am constantly... looking for ways to Prevent..., & Protect... others from any possible dangers or abuse or other harms. Even IF as I'm protecting someone, I get in harms' way myself: More times than I care to recall, have Stared-down an attacker, w/ a long Butcher-knife & worse, to protect my child/ren, plus. You do NOT wanna mess w/ my (even-extended) "mommy-Instinct". Call me 'locked, & loaded' even with no gun. Don't even give such a 2nd. thought. Innately it is simply Natural for me. Trust me.

RE "me/myself+i" otoh: remain vastly Spontaneous: at 43 decided to climb to the 3rd. story roof-Ridge (as proof that I overcame my fear of heights); & as a family we had a picnic up there for 2 hrs. laughing whole time. At 55 (to proof the ama for the fools they are) I laced up 1st. Figureskates, & eventually passed my 1st. 2 tests 🤗, for my eventual goal of passing all 6 jumps, now only my Waltz-jump. Tried Sr. moves... I yet lack skills for but that are so much FUN 🤩 !!! - At 60 at last I overcame my fear of water, & learned to sorta swim at YMCA. The next day I jumped off the Diving-board backwards into the Deep-end of the competition pool, pretending I'm a dolphin lol. - Past 20 yrs, our homestead is a perpetual Obstacle-course, prolly protecting most everything. Who would dare try to navigate... the mess, lol. More than once have I wielded chainsaws that need work done, etc, etc, etc. - Have nailed myself repeatedly, but never had a tetanus shot.

Yes, Agree SAFETY is Important, & I am careful/protective in most other areas: our finances, etc. & Driving around, & a bazillion other ways.

Yet, tho courageous is just another skill, - because I wear my heart on my sleeves, I can easily be brought to Spontaneous tears... by how others Mistreat me online.

shllnzl

@rainbow Online communication is tricky. We are missing all the visual, non-verbal cues to help us judge intent of those speaking to us. Also, it does not require courage to insult or be mean to someone when you don't have to look into their eyes while doing it or give your real name.

I remember a lesson from the early e-mail days: Lazy people, non-typists and even me WOULD TYPE ALL THEIR E-MAILS IN CAPITAL LETTERS BECAUSE IT WAS FASTER AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO FIND THE SHIFT KEY. I REMEMBER THE DAY A PUBLIC FORUM REQUESTED THAT ALL PEOPLE STOP SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER IN THEIR E-MAILS. I literally stopped in my tracks trying to figure out what the "screaming" issue was about. When I stopped shaking my head in wonder at the issue, I recognized that e-mails were a new way to communicate in more ways than one.

Back on topic, we should be glad we live our lives with passion and purpose. Just be safety-prepared for when we get so deeply involved in something that we could hurt ourselves.

Linda Bittle

I was specifically thinking of all the ways we can accidentally injure ourselves as we work around our homes and gardens.

Being not naturally graceful nor particularly adept, I try ever so hard to avoid hurting myself. Just wanted to throw that out as we all go about putting our homes and properties to bed for the winter.

shllnzl

@Mary Linda Bittle Me too. My accidents usually happen when I am overtired or too much in a hurry, situations that could easily happen during winter prep.

ines871

Hi @shllnzl - just imagine: I said "Maybe God is 1 entity, in 3 (steam+water+ice) so we can form a Personal... relationship with Him". Nope had to accept a Trinity, so was banned. in the next 1 I said: a Child should Not be 'beaten' for correction; & was banned again. Then said: Not every Figureskater can afford decades of private coaching, & there too was banned. in 20yrs, the list became a mile long. - This group was my last on-line Attempt. - Question: Since your Journal here is RE "pets" (not gardening); would I be Allowed ? to have 1 about my healthy Passions ? you know 1 for sure LOL

re 'Safety-prepared' ?? - may have me (the perpetual-8yrYoung kiddo) figgered out pretty good: "Lookie here, this is gonna be soooo much FUN & postehaste w/ (200% Focus+concentration) go FOR it. - Hmpf, maybe missed a few schmetails... (ok, gets them) "Now I'll do it 'perfect', watch me" (oh like 4x).... - Hmpf, maybe, just maybe, there's more to (whatever specific act of 'perfection'), than at 1st. I thought. - Darn, I don't have time for that nonsense, FUN awaits". And this is gonna be soooo much FUN !

lol

No less online in front of endless others, such open...Transparency..., am i 'Safety-prepared' ?

shllnzl

@rainbow Feel free to have a personal journal about Healthy Passions, why not? Your passion to educate, share knowledge and garden are healthy.

My passions for pets, plants, herbs, cooking, learning and nature fit in this forum. I questioned whether anyone wanted to share bead crafting, no real build up of momentum there. My passion for books, art and other interests do not fit here.

I (and you) can be as individual or eccentric as we want and we should still fit in TGN. TGN, in my opinion, is comprised of people who are not afraid to draw their own conclusions, work hard, follow their own path and think for themselves. Don't you think that sounds like you?

My safety recommendation for you is to beware of caretaker burnout. Take time to contemplate your flower rainbow regularly.

ines871

Well of course, All of those ^, but oh great @shllnzl - Remember to give me the journal A-ok 4 Figureskating: the 1 passion both I & Sweetie share keeping us going... Our common goal: get him UP, & walking again, so we can SK8 to all our beautiful music together... THIS is why I wrote ^ "this is gonna be soooo much FUN" ... Sans this Neither of us really cares to keep going. We need to ably grow the whole-person, - Understand now ?

shllnzl

@rainbow I say go for it! I am all for growing the whole person.

ines871

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/846755#Comment_846755

Thank you so much @shllnzl . Yes, Growing the "whole-person" should be the Focus...

And @Mary Linda Bittle

Please forgive this little Derail. I just had to get the "journal" A-OKAY, as a very Core/Central part of me has been slowly dying, for about 9 years, & I just needed to know: does Anybody here CARE about me/us 2 ?

Linda Bittle

@rainbow

I am all for people pursuing their passions, and for telling their stories. I admire courage in whatever form it takes.

I do kind of like to keep threads on track, though.

People here seem to be a caring bunch and will likely be OK with whatever you choose to share in your journal. You might not get a lot of feedback, but that does not mean that people do not care - only that skating may not be something that many of us can contribute to the conversation in any meaningful way. I say go for it, too.

ines871

okay @Mary Linda Bittle - having been heard, & acknowledged, I promise I will give it me best to Not derail your threads again. - Have a Safe & Happy Autumn week