Injuries are common occurrences during moves. Unfortunately, there are many situations on moving day that can cause people to get hurt, especially if they aren’t prepared for them. You already know you can injure yourself lifting heavy boxes or other items, but you might not think about other ways that you can get injured while moving. For instance, you are likely going to be moving glass items that, if broken, can seriously cut you. You can also get into an accident while driving a moving truck with which you are unfamiliar.
All of these injuries can be avoided by hiring a professional mover instead of trying to do it yourself. These mover Baltimore professionals are trained to lift heavy items correctly, have driven these big trucks over thousands of miles, and are equipped to transport glass items safely and securely. People who are physically unable to move their own items already know what a convenience hiring movers can be. They simply contact the company and all aspects of their move are handled. The only thing they have to do is show up at their new home, injury-free.
Of course, not everyone can or wants to hire a professional to move a household. If you are one of those people who would rather handle the move yourself, here are some tips that can help you avoid injury on moving day.
1. Use your legs when you lift anything, whether it is heavy or not. Do not use your back when you lift because it is not designed to bear weight in the same way your legs are. Repetitive lifting with your back can cause long-term back problems.
2. Do not attempt to move heavy furniture, appliances, or electronics by yourself. Ask a friend to help you so that the weight is distributed between you more evenly. If you do not have a friend nearby, use a dolly to move these items, which will transfer the bulk of the weight from you to the dolly. Take great care moving a dolly down stairs, though. Two people should always be involved when moving a large item up or down stairs.
3. Wrap glass items properly using bubble wrap or other cushiony material. This will minimize the chance that they will break. If a break does occur, take great care in picking up the shards.
4. Practice driving a big vehicle like a moving truck before the move if at all possible. The only way to learn how to drive a bigger vehicle is to practice. Be sure you know how to operate all features of the moving truck before you take it off the lot. Your salesman should be able to provide you with all the instructions you will need to complete the journey successfully.
Moving is definitely not easy. It is full of pitfalls and hazards that can cause serious bodily injury if you don’t plan for them. Take the proper precautions and the only thing you’ll have to worry about is having sore muscles the next day.