As consumers look to cut unnecessary expenses out of their budgets, the number of do-it-yourself home improvements seem to be on the rise. Both Home Depot and Lowe's, two of the nation's largest home supply retailers, reported better than expected quarterly earnings.According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, or NEISS, more than four million injuries related to home improvement projects result in emergency room visits each year. That number could be on the rise with more people unfamiliar with repair work attempting do-it-yourself projects.
"We’ve been seeing a lot of musculoskeletal problems from people lifting heavy things, maybe moving or doing things they’re not accustomed to,” Dr. Peter Lamelas, who operates urgent care centers around Palm Beach, Fla. tells the New York Times. “A lot of back injuries, shoulder injuries. Lacerations all the time.”
Even seemingly innocuous tools like ladders and lawn and garden equipment account for more than 350,000 emergency room visits annually. Some of the most common mistakes people make, according to NEISS, are climbing onto the top rungs of ladders or failing to check for debris that could be thrown into the air by lawnmowers.
Other projects, particularly those related to electrical wiring or plumbing, are risky not only because they can cause injuries, but also because mistakes can be very expensive to correct. Even though it may seem worthwhile to forgo professional help, a trip to the hospital or a bill for emergency repairs is probably going to be more expensive and certainly more of a hassle than calling in someone who works in the field.
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--Bridget O'Sullivan
