Most landscaping or yard work injuries result from ordinary tasks done without enough preparation or protective gear. At State Urgent Care on South Montgomery Street in Starkville, we treat these kinds of injuries all summer long and can help you figure out whether what you’re dealing with needs attention or can be managed at home.

Lawnmower injuries: More serious than people expect

Lawnmowers are involved in some of the most severe yard work injuries seen at urgent care clinics each summer, ranging from fractures to eye injuries from kicked-up debris, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Riding mowers carry an even greater risk on uneven ground, where tip-over accidents can happen even at low speeds.

A few basic habits can significantly lower your risk:

Clear the lawn of debris before mowing
Wear solid shoes with soles that grip
Never reach under the deck or near the blade
Keep children at a safe distance while you’re mowing

If you do sustain a cut from a mower blade, come in to see us. We can clean the wound properly and may even give you a tetanus booster if one is in order.

Cuts, scrapes and puncture wounds from hand tools

Puncture wounds and lacerations from garden tools are among the more common injuries we treat at State Urgent Care during the summer months. Though easy to dismiss because of light bleeding, puncture wounds from common yard tools carry a real infection risk if someone doesn’t clean and evaluate them properly.

Wearing work gloves is one of the simplest ways to protect your hands during pruning or digging, and putting sharp tools down with the blade pointed away from where someone might reach costs nothing. Small habits like these make a real difference over a long afternoon in the yard.

If you’re not sure whether a cut is serious enough to warrant a visit to State Urgent Care, it usually is. A quick evaluation takes hardly any time and can save you from bigger problems down the road.

Overexertion and muscle strains

The body doesn’t adapt to strenuous physical work overnight. You feel fine while you’re working, then wake up the next morning with a stiff lower back or a shoulder you won’t be able to lift without hurting. This delayed onset is common with muscle and soft tissue injuries, but that doesn’t mean the injury is minor.

At State Urgent Care, we can evaluate sprains to help you figure out whether it’s not a big deal, a soft tissue injury, or something that needs further imaging. We have on-site X-ray capability at our facility.

Remember, early treatment tends to produce better outcomes than waiting to see if the pain resolves on its own.

Heat exhaustion during summer yard work in Mississippi

The combination of physical exertion and direct sun exposure makes yard work one of the more heat-risky activities of a Mississippi summer.

Your body needs time to adjust to sustained heat and physical exertion. OSHA identifies lack of acclimatization as a major risk factor for serious heat-related illness, which is worth keeping in mind if you’re starting the season with a big landscaping project after spending months indoors.

Drink water consistently throughout the time you’re outside
Take breaks in the shade every 30 to 45 minutes
Consider doing the heaviest work in the early morning hours before the heat picks up
Monitor your health while you work; if you feel dizzy or nauseated, stop and get yourself out of the sun

If heat exhaustion symptoms don’t improve quickly with rest and fluids, come in. We have IV hydration on-site and can get you feeling better without the wait you’d face at an emergency room.

State Urgent Care is here all summer

Taking a few precautions before you head outside can make a real difference in how your summer goes. But accidents happen even when you’re careful, and that’s what we’re here for.

At State Urgent Care in Starkville, we offer walk-in care seven days a week with on-site X-ray, lab services and IV hydration.

Come see us at 521 South Montgomery Street if yard work leaves you with something that needs a closer look.