WITH Easter weekend upon us, I hope you have something fun planned.

Easter weekend is the biggest of the year for DIY and whilst all the hardware stores are likely to see a nice spike in sales, A&E is likely to get a similar increase in visitors too.

Back in the late 1990s I did a stint in plastic surgery and every Bank Holiday we would have a rush of injuries. Lawn mowers, drills and power saws are the usual culprits, but sharp hand tools are just as dangerous.

I will never forget one particular incident when a chap was clipping his hedge with old fashioned clippers – he leaned out to say hello to his neighbour as he passed and clipped off the tip of his nose!

However, the most common injuries are to the hands and the eyes.

I spent a fair few hours assisting in operating theatres to sew severed fingers back on and they are never quite the same again afterwards.

If you’re going to be doing some work, I would strongly recommend that you use protective gear, gloves and eye protection and make sure that you take extra care.

Once you have mowed your lawn and safely strimmed your hedge, if the sun is shining you might be tempted to light the first barbecue of the year.

Don’t be tempted to use petrol, or any other flammable liquid you find in the shed, to speed up the lighting process because you could do a lot more than just scorch your eyebrows off.

Also have a good think about where you place your barbecue, a mate of mine once melted his plastic patio doors when the BBQ was too near and the next year he set fire to a farmer’s field when camping, so take care.

Make sure the burgers and sausages are defrosted and well-cooked before you eat them, there are always a few calls after the bank holidays from patients blaming their diarrhoea and vomiting on a dodgy burger.

If you do injure yourself this Easter and you’re not sure what to do, call NHS 111 for advice. They will be able to direct you to the nearest service that can help, or even advise you how to treat your wound at home.

Have a good Easter, and take care of your fingers and eyebrows.

Dr Jeff Stoker is a local GP at the Bermuda and Marlowe Practice in Basingstoke, with over 20 years’ experience in the NHS.