While tending to plants and flowers in your garden, accidents like pricking yourself with pruning shears can happen unexpectedly.
If you’ve been working among soil and greenery and accidentally punctured your skin, it’s important to consider your tetanus vaccination status. Garden soil often harbors spores that can cause tetanus, a serious infection.
For adults who have completed the initial tetanus vaccine series, a dirty wound from gardening tools or thorny plants means you should get a booster if it’s been more than five years since your last shot.
Even if it’s been up to 21 days since the injury, receiving the vaccine promptly can prevent complications.
Cleaning the wound thoroughly after any gardening mishap is essential, but it does not replace the need for a tetanus booster. If your vaccination history is incomplete or uncertain, additional treatments like tetanus immune globulin may be necessary to ensure protection.
So, while enjoying your flowers and plants, always take precautions—wear gloves, handle tools carefully, and keep your tetanus shots up to date to stay safe in the garden.
