NHS urges DIY-lovers to take care this Easter amid rise in accidents

NHS urges DIY-lovers to take care this Easter amid rise in accidents caused by power tools, falls from ladders and lawnmowers The warnings come as Easter is round the corner and people have time off DIY related injuries have risen by 7% in the past three years, figures show Falling from a ladder causes the most injuries, with 6,300 needing treatment

By Vanessa Chalmers Health Reporter For Mailonline

Published: 00:01 BST, 19 April 2019 | Updated: 00:01 BST, 19 April 2019

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You may be thinking of putting together some furniture in your time off this Easter.

But the NHS is warning you to be careful if you are, amid a rise in accidents caused by power tools such as drills.

Even mowing the lawn while the sun shines this weekend could land you in hospital, an injury hundreds have experienced in the past year.

Overall the number of people landing themselves in A&E with a DIY related injury has soared by seven per cent in the past three years, NHS England has revealed

Overall the number of people landing themselves in A&E with a DIY related injury has soared by seven per cent in the past three years, NHS England has revealed 

Overall the number of people heading to A&E with a DIY related injury has soared by seven per cent in the past three years. 

The NHS said people are inspired to work on their own houses by TV programmes such as DIY SOS, Grand Designs and 60 Minute Makeover.  

The figures, collated by NHS Digital, show 6,372 people needed urgent care after falling from a ladder in 2017/18. 

There were almost 4,800 admissions to hospital wards for injuries from drills and other power tools, and 500 from a mishap with a mower.

WHEN SHOULD YOU GO TO A&E? 

An A&E department (also known as emergency department or casualty) deals with genuine life-threatening emergencies, such as:

loss of consciousness acute confused state and fits that are not stopping  chest pain  breathing difficulties  severe bleeding that cannot be stopped  severe allergic reactions  severe burns or scalds  stroke major trauma such as a road traffic accident 

Less severe injuries can be treated in urgent care centres or minor injuries units. 

A lot of common illnesses can be treated at home by using over-the-counter medicine and getting plenty of rest.  

A&E is not an alternative to a GP appointment, the NHS states.

If your GP is closed you can go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111, which will direct

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