The title for this post might be alarming, but it’s important to be alarmed. Packing and moving is a big deal and one that people tend to throw themselves into, but there are some really serious risks of being too reckless about how you carry it out. Here, we’re going to look at those risks and what you need to do to avoid them. You don’t want moving day to have a sudden trip to the ER thrown right in the middle of it, after all.
Don’t rush it
You might be in an urge to get everything packed up and into your van as soon as possible, but the faster you go, the more your chance of doing some real harm to yourself. Take your time, make sure that the home is as clean and safe as possible to avoid the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Be careful about how quickly you move, twist, and lift around, as these can increase your chances of pulling a muscle or twisting an ankle. In fact, it might be a good idea to have a warm-up exercise before you get started with the lifting and to stretch beforehand, so you reduce your chances of sustaining an injury.
Practice good lifting form
If you’re not a frequent gym goer, then you shouldn’t underestimate the strain that lifting heavy objects can put on your body. There is a significant risk of doing real back, joint, and muscle damage by lifting without the proper form. It goes beyond the commonly heard tip of “bend at the knees, not the waist.” Sites like Braceability can help you learn what you need to know about proper heavy lifting techniques. This includes avoiding bending forward, ensuring objects are kept beneath shoulder length, and mistakes to avoid like holding your breath or failing to clear your path before transporting heavy objects. It might seem like nit-picking, but these steps are essential for avoiding your risk of injury.
Know what you can and cannot handle alone
It’s important to test the weight of an object before trying to seriously lift it, and to be realistic about your estimations of your ability and what you can do yourself. You should never try moving alone for this reason, as some objects are going to take a group effort. Besides the risks that come with improper lifting as mentioned above, putting too much pressure on your body by lifting objects that are too heavy and cause some drastic injuries like a hernia. Treatment from providers like SD Hernia is essential if this happens to you, as the longer it’s left untreated, the harder it can get. Of course, it’s much better to avoid that risk in the first place when possible.
The right gear can help you
If there are objects that are too heavy to lift, then rather than doing it with some help, it may be better to have some equipment that does the heavy lifting for you. If you’re relying on a moving company, they should have this gear with them. Otherwise, suppliers like CDS can rent out moving equipment like carts that you can use to secure and move objects that you should be otherwise unwary of. There’s a range of different equipment, so you should identify your heaviest objects first, so you choose the right gear to shift it. You should also consider some lift personal protective equipment like gloves, as hand and finger injuries can be quite common when moving home.
Prepare the home as best as possible
Take the time to clear hallways and pathways of obstacles that could result in slips, trips, and falls. If you’re moving in the winter, do what you can to de-ice the outside or, if it has been raining, try to clear away the wet leaves, mud, and debris that can be just as dangerous. If you have pets or children, do what you can to make sure they’re not getting in the way, whether it means keeping your dogs in the kennel or having a family member watch your kid away from the house. All the same, injuries can and do happen when moving home so for that reason, you should make sure you have a fully stocked first aid kit, as shown at MyMedic, to provide immediate care when and where necessary.
The mental toll
While it might not be a physical injury in and of itself, being too stressed can increase your risk of causing back or joint pain, as it causes the body to literally tense up more than it normally does. Furthermore, the burnout of handling it all yourself can easily end up making the whole day a miserable experience. The effective preparation is the best way to cut down the stress of moving. If you can move things ahead of time, break it up, or use temporary storage to get some objects out of the way, it’s worth considering.
Consider professional help
Of course, the best way to ensure both the safest and the most stress-free move is to consider calling professional help. Services like Gorilla Movers don’t just take the hassle of all the work off your hands. Professionals are trained to come with all of the safety and moving gear that they need to reduce the chances of injury as best as possible. Of course, if you’re planning on using professionals, you should try to schedule it as soon as possible, as their availability can change, and you should do what you can to inform them of what you need to move, any obstacles in the layout of the home and so on so they can come equipped with the right gear for the job.
Don’t underestimate just how much stress your body (and mind for that matter) can be under during your moving day. If you have a lot of stuff, you should get help or moving it in phases, and most importantly, make sure you have the gear and safety equipment you need to handle it.
