Hurricane Preparation & Cleanup Can Cause Injury

Ignoring Equipment Safety Tips One of Many Reasons for Serious Harm

May 31, 2009
Mary King

Know How to Use Nail Guns and Power Tools - xianstudio

Generators and chain saws top the list of equipment that can cause injury during hurricanes. Age, poor health, and lack of common sense increase the chances for harm.

Hurricane season begins June 1st for the southern part of the United States, and typically ends November 30th. Veteran residents know how important it is to keep hurricane supplies stocked and equipment ready to use on short notice. Newcomers to the area are likely to see a flood of information provided by all public media sources announcing hurricane preparations and hurricane safety measures. In spite of the warnings and safety tips, some people will end up in the hospital emergency room because of carelessness or inexperience.

Injuries Commonly Sustained during Preparation for a Hurricane

Most accidents related to a hurricane attract media attention after the storm has passed, but the public should also be aware of mishaps that can happen prior to a storm. Persons anxious to board windows and protect property can easily fall victim to a panicky situation, forgetting safety rules.

Nail Gun Accidents. A nail gun is a common tool, but it can kill if used improperly. The novice nail gun operator who is not aware of the dangers and proper safety procedures for using a nail gun can cause serious self injury and poses a threat to innocent bystanders.
Ladder Falls. People who use ladders to hang plywood for boarding windows prior to a hurricane are at risk for an accident, especially those who are elderly or who are unfamiliar with ladder use.
Health Condition Injuries. Working in summer heat and lifting heavy plywood for boarding up windows is no easy feat and can result in hyperthermia. Persons with compromised health, those people with poor eyesight, and elderly citizens risk the danger of injury when preparing the home exterior prior to a hurricane.
Power Saw Injuries. Cutting plywood to cover windows sends some novice power saw users to the emergency room with severe cuts. Those who don't wear safety glasses risk eye injury, as well.

Injuries Commonly Seen in Emergency Rooms after a Hurricane

After a hurricane has passed, people are anxious to get out and begin cleanup operations. Hospitals may be overwhelmed with storm victims, some of which have suffered injuries from using dangerous equipment.

Chain Saw Accidents. The Web site, Urban Forestry South Expo, presents the article, "Preventing Chain Saw Injuries During Tree Removal after a Hurricane" (2005), and cites a quote from the Atlanta, Georgia, Center for Disease Control: "Each year, approximately 36,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries from using chain saws. The potential risk of injury increases after hurricanes and other natural disasters, when chain saws are widely used to remove fallen or partially fallen trees and tree branches." The danger is compounded by novice chain saw operators who are in a hurry to clear driveways and property, and who often overlook safety rules for operation. The University of Florida provides the online publication FOR No. 115 (PDF Format), "Cleaning Up After a Hurricane: Safety Comes First!" and gives detailed information with photos on how to safely operate a chain saw.
Ladder Falls. Just as ladders pose a risk before the storm, they also present danger after the hurricane passes when homeowners are in a hurry to remove window coverings. Broken limbs, back injuries, and head trauma are but a few injuries one can sustain from improperly using a ladder.
Generator Injuries. Generators can be extremely dangerous, as warned by northwest Florida's Gulf Power Company. Generators should be tested regularly no matter where one lives. New users should become familiar with proper operation and safety precautions long before a storm arrives. In addition to the many safety tips provided on the Gulf Power Web site, the company strongly cautions storm residents: "Did you know that improperly plugging a generator into your household wiring produces a dangerous backfeed of electricity that can injure utility workers or cause damage to your home or neighbor's homes? Make sure you only plug appliances into your generator and use it outdoors away from your home."
Power Line Injuries. Even in a low category one hurricane, lightning, wind, and fallen trees can disrupt live power lines. Contact with downed power lines can cause serious burns or can be fatal.
Charcoal Grill Injuries. Carbon monoxide is a deadly odorless gas that can kill. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in the article, "Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning" (2008), states, "You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned." It's wise to know the poisoning symptoms of carbon monoxide and have a CO detector in the home to prevent the risk of tragedy. One should never use a charcoal grill inside the home, even in a fireplace. Inexperienced grill users should also be aware that severe burns can result from fire flare-up caused by adding lighter fluid to hot coals.
Driver and Curious Spectator Injuries. Residents can cause a single-vehicle or multiple-vehicle collisions from venturing out immediately after a storm to inspect damage to the neighborhood or town. Downed trees, debris, and power poles can also cause traffic congestion and accidents to bystanders.

The struggling economy will force many people to take on hurricane preparation jobs and cleanup details themselves rather than pay someone experienced to do the work. The decision to “do it yourself” will most likely cause an increase in injuries and accidental deaths, especially among those with health issues and elderly persons.

A hurricane is a huge storm with a radius that can extend a hundred miles or more from the center (eye). Hurricane preparation means more than stocking food and water for several weeks. Preparing for a storm and cleaning up after the rains have stopped means knowing how to properly use equipment needed to do the job correctly. Survival depends on knowing one's limitations, planning for needed help ahead of time, and following common sense measures.