I know we all think we’re immune and we can deflect bullets, jump over tall buildings and are as fast as a speeding plane…but, honestly! When was the last time you had your tetanus booster? 10 years ago? 20, maybe?

I’m not big on needles for any reason and while I like to consider myself “manly” enough to handle most things I become a blubbering mess when a nurse presents a needle aiming to cast it into one of my appendages. Maybe, it’s just because I’m allergic to PAIN.

If there were one disease that was most likely to bring down a gardener, Tetanus would have to be it. This is because tetanus occurs from a bacteria, Clostridium tetani, found in the soil. The bacteria can also be found in dust and animal manures.

Tetanus can infect an open wound and after an incubation period of between 3 days to 3 weeks it can produce serious health problems, and potentially become fatal. While this is rare, possibly only 100 deaths per annum throughout the western world, it’s also completely preventable.

Most adults receive their final injections when they’re between 15-17 years of age and are then supposed to receive a booster every 10 years. Hands up who’s had one since they were 17? I’m guessing, if you’re anything like me, it’s probably one of those things that are still sitting on the TO-DO list and you have to blow the dust off every once in awhile to read it properly.

The reason this disease is a silent killer is because it is often associated with standing on rusty nails or cutting yourself with any corroded metal object. However, all it takes is for an open wound on your hand or other part of your body to come in contact with some contaminated soil and the infection has already commenced.

In my “manly” state, I’m not likely to do anything about this and continue gardening as though nothing happened. The symptoms such as breathing difficulties and muscle tightness could be argued away as “old age” until the more dastardly problems like lockjaw and violent muscle spasms creep in and by then it’s probably becoming too late.

While this may sound a little scary – and it is – a tetanus booster every 10 years innoculates any gardener from this disease. And who’s scared of a little pin-prick every ten years, huh?