Last Easter, my husband injured his hand when he was digging in the garden.

He is off on holiday again this Easter and is due to start work in the garden. How can he avoid any further injuries?

Following some sensible health and safety guidelines can help prevent common DIY accidents

€¢ Be realistic and don't tackle a job unless you really have the ability. A competent, qualified person should always carry out gas and electrical work

€¢ Keep stairways tidy so that no-one trips over anything.

€¢ Take extra care when using machinery and use appropriate safety equipment such as eye goggles and gloves.

€¢ Keep any tools clean and in good repair, and give each one a quick check over before you use it

€¢ Disconnect all electrical appliances and tools before working on them

€¢ Do not stand on chairs to paint or paper walls. Use a stable stepladder.

€¢ Clean up any spillages to prevent someone slipping over.

€¢ Follow the manufacturer's instructions when using chemical products.

€¢ Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes when mowing the lawn and keep your feet and hands well away from the mower blades.

€¢ Ensure that all tools, paint and chemicals are kept out of the reach of children and pets

My children regularly have colds or a cough or sore throat at this time of year. Where can I get advice about treating them at home, without having to take them to the doctor?

There are still many common minor illnesses circulating within communities at this time of year, and children are particularly susceptible to picking up viruses. NHS 24 has an easy to use self help guide available on their website which provides information and advice on some of the more common symptoms that people call the helpline about, such as coughs, colds, flu and diarrhoea. Of course, you can contact NHS 24 free on 111 if it cant wait until your GP surgery re-opens, but before calling us, you can get the advice you need on these common illnesses at your fingertips, at www.nhs24.com

What is hayfever?

Hay fever is a common allergic condition that affects up to one in five people at some point in their life. Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. The symptoms of hay fever are caused when a person has an allergic reaction to pollen.

Pollen is a fine powder released by plants as part of their reproductive cycle. Pollen contains proteins that can cause the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses (small air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead) to become swollen, irritated and inflamed.

You can have an allergy to:

€¢ tree pollen, released during spring

€¢ grass pollen, released during the end of spring and beginning of summer

€¢ weed pollen, released any time from early spring to late autumn

Many people find that their symptoms improve as they get older. Around half of people report some improvement in symptoms after several years. In around 10%-20% of people symptoms go away completely.

There is currently no cure for hay fever but most people are able to relieve symptoms with treatment, at least to a certain extent.Your local pharmacy is a great source of safe and reliable information on medicines to control hayfever.