A fatal injury occurs in the home every 18 minutes and a disabling injury every 4 seconds. These sobering facts are not usually heard in the conversations of home-improvement enthusiasts.

According to the American Safety & Health Institute, more than 150,000 people were seriously injured in 2001 as the result of accidents in their homes when using a ladder.

And at least 200,000 emergency room visits occur each year related to garden tools and equipment, the ASHI says. Almost 100,000 people receive treatment for hand-saw and power-saw related injuries and the simple screwdriver claims about 10,000 victims annually. The National Safety Council has designated June as National Safety Month in part because of the increase in home improvement related injuries.

So should the threat of connecting hammer to thumbnail stop you from tackling a home improvement project? Probably not, but for those who have ever wept real tears from such an injury, here are some common-sense safety refreshers: Work within your ability: Perhaps the most vital piece of advice is to never underestimate the difficulty of the job. Get someone else to do it if you feel it's beyond your level of skill. If a job is too much, call in a professional. While home improvement projects can help save you money, the economics won't add up if an emergency room visit becomes necessary.