Nail Gun Injuries on the Rise in Consumers

April 12, 2007— -- TORONTO (CP) - There has been a huge spike in the number ofconsumer nail-gun injuries as more and more do-it-yourselfers armthemselves with the powerful tools.

A study published by the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention shows annual nail-gun injuries to consumers treated inU.S. hospital emergency rooms have soared by about 200 per centsince 1991.

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

The epidemiologist from Duke University in North Carolina saysboth construction workers and consumers must remember to treatthese 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 thesafe use of a nail-gun before firing it off on home-renovationprojects.

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