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7.0 DANGERS - ACCIDENTS - DO-IT-YOURSELF - DIY

Just about everyone has a do-it-yourself horror story.

The classic tale is about the time the home handyman tried to fix the plumbing and ended up calling the plumber on a weekend (who charged double time) because the basement was flooded. Very funny.

However, there are many jobs you should never attempt if you don't have the skills. It is up to you to decide. Consider the following:

Car repair: The car can fall on you if improperly supported. You can be strangled if your tie or scarf gets caught by a turning fan blade. You can be blinded if you jump start a battery incorrectly (a friend of mine was in the hospital for several weeks and almost lost his sight). You can be scalded by hot coolant in the radiator.

Home repair: I estimate about 500,000 people are injured in home repair accidents every year in the U.S. These accidents involve falling from ladders, cuts from saws, knives, chisels and power tools. In addition many home repair jobs look much simpler than they appear, such as installing and finishing sheet rock.

Cooking: Now what could possibly go wrong in the kitchen? Well, you could scald yourself, cut yourself or start a fire in a frying pan. In addition you can prepare or store food improperly so that it causes food poisoning.

Taxes: While you might not injure yourself, you could add numbers incorrectly, not keep the right documentation, forget about deductions, or file the wrong form. You could end up being audited.

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