Sometimes the things we take for granted can pose the greatest risk. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 400,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries from lawn and garden tools every year. Most accidents are caused by the operator being inattentive or not following basic rules of safety. Caution and common sense are in order when tending to your lawn and garden this summer.

Each year, about 25,300 people are injured and 75 people are killed on or near riding lawnmowers and garden tractors. One out of every five deaths involves a child. Most of the deaths involving children occurred when a child was in the path of a moving mower.

Other garden equipment can be dangerous even when it is not in use. For example, weed- and hedge-trimming equipment have sharp blades that can cause severe lacerations if the blades are mishandled or stored where you or others can brush against them.

Take the following precautions to prevent injuries from lawn and garden equipment:

. Dress appropriately for the task. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt (to avoid injuries from thrown objects such as rocks or sticks), close-fitting clothes, sturdy shoes with slip-resistant rubber soles, eye protection, heavy gloves (to protect hands when changing, sharpening or cleaning blades), hearing protection such as ear plugs when using motor-driven equipment, and no jewelry (to avoid getting anything caught in moving parts).

. Before starting up machinery, remove objects from the area in which you are working that can cause injury or damage equipment, such as sticks, glass, metal, wire and stones. Make sure that safety devices on the equipment are in place and functioning properly before starting work.

. Never let a child ride on or operate a garden tractor or riding mower, even if the child is supervised. Teenagers only should be allowed to operate outdoor power equipment if they possess adequate strength and maturity to do so safely and are supervised by a responsible adult.

. Keep children indoors and supervised at all times when any outdoor power equipment is being used. Young children move quickly and are attracted to mowers and mowing activity, especially if they have been given rides on mowers before.

. Never assume children will remain where you last saw them. Be alert and turn off the mower if children enter the mowing area. Use extra care when backing up or when approaching corners, shrubs and trees.

. Unplug electric tools and disconnect spark plug wires on gasoline-powered tools before making adjustments or clearing jams near moving parts.

. Be sure power tools are turned off and made inoperable if they must be left unattended to prevent use by children.

. Handle gas carefully. Never fill gasoline tanks while machinery is on or when equipment is still hot. Wipe up spills. Store gas in an approved container away from the house. Finally, never smoke or use any type of flame around gasoline or any gasoline-powered equipment.

. Never work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions. For protection against electrocution, use a ground fault circuit interrupter. Ground fault circuit interrupters come in several models, including a portable plug-in type.

. Be sure that extension cords are in good condition, are rated for outdoor use and are the proper gauge for the electrical current capacity of the tool.

. Always use lawn and garden tools responsibly and follow manufacturers’ instructions.

Finally, clip this article and post it in your garage or tool shed as a reminder. Have your kids read it now, and again in the fall, because many of the same rules apply to winter equipment such as snowblowers.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT/The Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. For help or to request individual or business membership information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.