The holiday season is quickly approaching. You’ve got gifts to buy, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, travel plans to make, and let’s not forget about keeping up with the Jones’s hanging lights and Christmas decorations. We are so busy checking things off our to-do list! Make sure this holiday season remains holly and jolly by avoiding an injury during your holiday frenzy.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in November and December 2015 there were an estimated 14,000 injuries treated at hospital emergency rooms due to holiday decorations. Of these injuries; falls and back strains were among the most common injuries.
To prevent falls when decorating your home this holiday season, make sure you are using the proper ladder for your job. There are many types and sizes of ladders available at any hardware store. Using the wrong ladder can increase your risk for fall and injury. Your local hardware store should be able to point you in the right direction for the job you are planning.
Once you’ve remembered where you stashed your holiday decorations last year, keep in mind proper lifting techniques to avoid a cumbersome back injury. When lifting, bend at the knees and lift with the leg muscles, not the back or the waist. Avoid twisting and turning your waist when lifting, instead take small steps to turn. Another common mechanism of low back injury around the holiday’s is from lifting luggage. Keep the same lifting precautions in mind and try to keep your luggage light and use a suitcase with wheels to avoid muscle strain. When placing your luggage in an overhead bin, first lift to the seat back and regrip before then lifting into the overhead bin.
This holiday season don’t put yourself on the sidelines at family gatherings with an unplanned injury. Slow down and follow these precautions to keep your holiday festivities merry and bright.
By Robin Dodd
Sources:
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/staying-healthy/about-holiday-safety/
https://onsafety.cpsc.gov/blog/2016/12/05/tis-the-season-to-decorate-safely-2/
https://www.grainger.com/content/safety-choosing-ladder
