Important message to all who dig in the dirt:stretcher:

[digitrich]

I do excavation work and about three years ago I got tetanus. I hadn't had a booster shot in over 20 years, duh, point is; in that year, of the four people who caught tetanus in the U S, I was the only person to survive! You have to have current tetanus shots and boosters if you are going to be digging in the soil with those paws of yours. Tetanus comes from bacteria in the soil and can be there for 100's of years, all you need is a cut and wallah your dead in 18 hours. So go get yourself a tetanus shot and then you're immune. I was a lucky schmuck, who knows how lucky you'll be. Good luck: be safe.

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

I did get a booster a few years back. And I've cut myself a few times digging; still got blood stains on the explorer.

Worked in Uganda (Africa, Idi Amin, etc.) back in the 1980s. Brought a guy to the hospital that had advanced tetanus; every bump we hit, and there where many, well can't even explain. You don't want to catch this disease.

Though the chances in the U.S. are small it can be easily avoided by getting a shot.

Good Advice.

Chris

 

[jimb]

Yes , yes and yes. Do to my area of work in the waste water Field its a must. It never dawned on me when I first started this hobby until I read it here. I went right out and picked up rubber coated gloves also. The last booster shot I received was a mix. It had like 5 different things in it besides the tetanus. It might have even had distemper in it One little bacteria can ruin a life in short order.

jimb SE WI

 

[Welsh Neil]

I had my booster about 2 years ago (booster is every 5 years) - so no excuses in the UK as its free anyway!!!

 

[Frank in NH]

n/t

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

n/t

 

[jimb]

n/t

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Takes some getting used to but do wear gloves as it cuts down on wear and tear of the hands and also get a case of poisin ivy. oak and the like and you will see everylittle bit helps..Might even make that thick leather gloves for extra protection as one of our fellows lost a part of a finger from a blasting cap from an old mining area. Indeed the ground contains many hazards...so be extra careful////

 

[Mrchile]

n/t

 

[vlad]

n/t

 

[vlad]

n/t

 

[digitrich]

n/t

 

[digitrich]

is rare here, it's because all children who go to school in the US are required to have a tetanus shot prior to attended school. However, they don't expect us adults to be digging around in the dirt, and most people think that the tetanus shot they got when they were young means they can't get it now. That is wrong, you have to get a booster shot regularly or it's like you have never had one; ever, and you could easily catch it. Look up tetanus on a web site to learn more.