You may have gotten the Christmas decorations up without sustaining some type of orthopedic injury, but that only means that you’ve won half the battle. There’s still the arduous process of taking down all those things that you put up weeks ago. This can prove to be just as injurious as setting up, and you’ll want to approach the task in the safest manner possible for your body. To that end, consider some of the insights available from a new report, always using the utmost caution whenever you’re lifting, climbing, or navigating icy surfaces.
Let’s take each activity on its own accord. One common thing that a lot of people will engage in right now is taking down lights on the outside of the house, something that has the potential to lead to some fairly serious injuries. Make sure that you’re using a ladder that’s appropriate for the task at hand, and always be willing to climb back down and move the entire ladder rather than lean so far out that you put yourself in danger. Take the lights down slowly, making sure that your momentum never carries you away from the ladder or the ladder away from the wall it’s leaning against.
As you’re setting up the ladder, make sure it’s erected on a solid surface that offers an adequate amount of stability. To further ensure that there won’t be any wobbling, have someone help you as you go about your job.
If you’re moving things back into storage, this also has the potential to leave you open to injury if you’re not lifting in the right manner. As with using a ladder, just make sure that you’re taking your time. Every single motion you take part in should be deliberate. Lift things smoothly and complete every action.
That will also mean not putting all of the weight on your back. All of those ornaments can become pretty heavy when boxed together, especially if you’re working all day. You can severely strain your back if you’re not bending your knees to allow them to take the brunt of the lift.
When you have a box full of ornaments or lights in your hands, make sure to move your legs to turn rather than twist your torso, something that also places excessive strain on your back. Minimize instances of reaching as you go about putting everything back into storage, as you never know when you’ll extend too far and cause an injury.
Finally, be careful on slick, icy surfaces. Minimize the weight you carry, and always have a hand free so that you might be able to right yourself during a slip.
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