Today's Advice To DIY Homeowners - STOP

I was cracking up reading this, looking at the numbers. This catalogues about a half a million people a year who wake up thinking "gee I'm a real man, I'll clean my own gutters," and spend the rest of the month in traction. Really I had no idea. I'm kind of a DIY guy myself, mostly because the people you hire aren't necessarily any better than you, at least at a certain level. I'm not a DIY plumber, for example. I go with a licensed guy for that. But painting, that kind of crap? Sure. It's all tied up with this stupid "being a man" thing too. Being a man gets you in trouble, period. Just a ridiculous concept altogether.

I don't use power tools very often. I have a handsaw. I like the advice about using a power saw. "Keep both feet firmly on the ground." I could never write this type of instruction because I would just ASSUME that people knew that. So I can't be a "technical writer."

If you look at the stats, everybody should stop the whole DIY thing and hire people to do absolutely everything. This would be a win-win of helping the economy and making people safer at exactly the same time.

The more I think about this, damn this is actually the best single idea I've heard (yes I heard it from myself) this year, and it really kicks the ass of every idea I've heard from any politician this year as well. It's not like I'm using this as a political platform but if any town or state wants to pay me to represent them in some unofficial capacity I'm available and you won't be sorry.

Accidents that typically send people to the emergency room involve falling off ladders, getting struck by mower debris, lacerations from a power tool or chain saw and burns or breathing difficulties caused by household chemicals. “We want to keep reminding people how easy it is to do a job right by doing it safely,” says Meri-K Appy, a safety expert with the HSC, who reminded us that June is Home Safety Month. Here are five of the most common do-it-yourself mishaps—and how to avoid them.

Climbing a ladder. Falls from ladders and stools sent over 246,733 Americans to hospital emergency rooms in 2009 (the last year for which full statistics are available) according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Experts from the CPSC, HSC and Consumer Reports recommend the following:

•Use the right ladder for the job. Always select a height that doesn't require you to reach up or out in a way that destabilizes the ladder; keep your belt buckle centered between the rails.
•Set up your ladder on a firm, level surface. With an extension ladder, the base should be one foot away from the wall for every four feet the ladder reaches up.
•Use your stepladder only in the open, A-shaped position and lock the spreaders.
•Don't step above the labeled maximum height. Beyond that point, the odds of an accident increase significantly.

Mowing the lawn. Lawn mower-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms totaled 86,000 in 2009. The most common injuries were caused by debris, such as rocks and branches, being thrown by the mower's spinning blades. Here’s what to do:

•Send the kids into the house or well away from the area you are mowing.
•Check the lawn for debris (twigs, rocks and other objects).
•Wear sturdy shoes with sure-grip soles, never sneakers, sandals or bare feet.
•Never refuel the mower when it is running or while the engine is hot.

Using power tools. Home power tools resulted in 83,204 emergency room admissions in 2009. The most common injuries involve cuts, especially to the fingers and hands. The Power Tool Institute recommends.

•Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry that could become entangled in moving parts.
•Unplug the power cord before you change a part or do any trouble-shooting on a tool that is jammed or won't start.
•Wear safety glasses with side shields.

Working with paints and other chemicals. Accidents involving paints, solvents, lubricants and cleaning agents caused 53,907 emergency room admissions in 2009. Injuries often include chemical burns and breathing problems. Here’s how to avoid mishaps:

•Store and use pool chemicals according to the manufacturer’s directions.
•Gasoline is dangerous inside a home or garage—vapors can explode with just a tiny spark.
•Keep chemicals and cleansers in their original containers and don’t mix them.
•Wear gloves, goggles and masks if the product’s label says to do so.

Using a chain saw. Chain saw accidents sent 26,593 to the emergency room in 2009. Kickback—where the tip of the saw snaps up and back toward the user—is involved in one in four injuries. Cuts to hands, fingers, legs and feet are typical and usually require multiple stitches. Here’s how to stay safe.

•Wear eye and ear protection, gloves, tight-fitting clothing, cut-resistant leg chaps, boots, and a hard hat with a protective face screen.
•Grip the saw with both hands and keep both feet firmly on the ground.
•Saw only tree limbs you can reach from the ground while holding the saw below your shoulders.
•Avoid sawing with the tip of the chain and bar, where kickback typically occurs.

[Consumer Reports]