Five ways to avoid injuries during a move
The very thought of moving to a new place brings about excitement, mostly because this means settling in a new environment and making new friends. This enthusiasm is often dampened when one thinks of the stress involved with packing and other moving preparations. With everything that’s involved, especially loading and moving boxes, injuries – both minor and severe – may occur.
You have to deal with loading, unloading and lifting items during and after the move. In order to have a successful and enjoyable move, safety precautions are important to avoid injuries. Below are 5 ways you can prevent injuries during a move.
Look out for unsafe walkways
Certain areas of your home may have unsafe areas that can pose a certain degree of danger when carrying things from room to room. Ensure that the floors aren’t slippery and that stairs are free of clutter. Be careful when walking up and down stairs or navigating slippery floors, especially when moving boxes.
Place mats on the slippery areas and warn anyone that will be helping with the move if you have slippery floors or stairs.
Carry a first aid kit for minor injuries
A first aid kit will come in handy in case of minor injury, so we recommend you keep one handy. Kits should contain aspirin, antibiotic cream, bandages, and any other first aid items you think would be helpful.
Stay hydrated
Heavy lifting, packing, and unpacking can leave you tired. It can also leave your body dehydrated. To stay active and strong, drink a lot of water during the moving process. Always carry a bottle of water with you.
Stay away from flammable items
Items like spray cans, aerosol cans, paint thinners, and chemicals are highly flammable. Should a fire break out, you run the chance of both severe injuries and loss of property. As such, most moving companies prefer not to transport flammable items and we recommend you follow suit. Put simply, don’t include them in the move.
Use your legs, not your back, when lifting
A move can take a toll on one’s back because of the heavy lifting involved. The most effective way to avoid back injuries is to utilize your legs rather than your back to hoist items.
It’s also important to ensure that your phone is fully charged so that you can reach medical services and emergency contacts in case of injury.
Hopefully, these tips will help you avoid injuries and bring you back to that sense of excitement over moving into a new home.
