Nail Gun Injuries on the Rise in Consumers

 

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TORONTO (CP) - There has been a huge spike in the number of consumer nail-gun injuries as more and more do-it-yourselfers arm themselves with the powerful tools.

A study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows annual nail-gun injuries to consumers treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms have soared by about 200 per cent since 1991.

Lead author Dr. Hester Lipscomb says that of 37,000 annual nail-gun injuries, about 40 per cent were among consumers.

The epidemiologist from Duke University in North Carolina says both construction workers and consumers must remember to treat these powerful tools like any other loaded gun.

Lipscomb says that just like a revolver that shoots bullets, nail-guns should never be pointed at oneself or at others.

She says consumers should make sure they get training in the safe use of a nail-gun before firing it off on home-renovation projects.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)