Whether it’s cleaning out gutters, repairing your roof, trimming trees or other miscellaneous work in or outside of the home, the Perry Fire Department has some safety reminders this spring.

Chief Chris Hinds says the first thing everyone needs to keep in mind is the importance of working with the right equipment.

“It’s very important that you always use a ladder that’s long enough for the job at hand.  Never have a short ladder and be trying to stretch or reach or set a ladder on top of blocks or something like that to make it a couple inches taller.  Be sure you have the right ladder for the job.”

Hinds also says it’s important to use the ladder properly, especially when climbing.

“Always face the ladder when climbing up or down.  A lot of people will face the ladder while going up the ladder and then they’ll turn around and want to go down the ladder like it’s a staircase.  Ladders are not designed for that, your feet are not shaped right in order to go down a ladder in that direction.  That’s how people will catch a foot or whatever and then they’re going to face plant right into the bottom of that ladder.  That’s never a good thing.”

Hinds also notes that it’s not a good idea to carry equipment up a ladder as both hands should be free to hold both sides of the ladder.