As I write this it remains cold in my neck of the woods, but the calendar denotes that spring will has officially sprung. After the cold start of March, many of us are yearning for warm sunny weather so we can resume our outside activities that have been on hold since last year.
This is also the time of year when our activities might mean more injuries as we emerge from our winter hibernation and jump into spring cleaning projects. If not for that wonderful warm sunlight streaming into our homes, we would never see the enormous collection of dust bunnies that have been eluding us all winter.
Whether you are planning on cleaning up all of those branches laying on the lawn, getting your flower beds into shape in preparation for planting or going through the house with a dust mop or vacuum, its best to slowly work up to full throttle by setting small goals. In other words, on the first warm weekend don’t try to clean up the whole yard. Instead, make a written list of your “goals for spring” with a scheduled timeframe. I love a good list. It helps me organize the tasks that need to be done. It also allows me to both prioritize the work at hand and have a constant reminder of what needs to get done. There’s also a great sense of accomplishment crossing a completed item off my list!
Tool Rules and Warm-Up Advice
If you are going to be using tools or equipment, now is the time to make sure they are clean, safe and in good working order. Tools such as rakes or brooms should be appropriately sized for your height.
Before starting any activity, either inside or out, you should warm up. Consider a brisk walk to get your heart pumping and loosen up your muscles, followed by some stretching of your arms, back and legs.
Try these safety techniques to prevent spring cleaning injuries:
- Remember to take frequent breaks and stay hydrated as you complete your cleaning project.
- Get help for moving heavy furniture.
- Clean the floor with a mop rather than on your hands and knees. Push the mop forward and back to clean small areas at a time, rather than leaning too far forward.
- If you must scrub floors by hand, kneel on a pad and don’t reach too far in any direction.
- Vacuuming can put a lot of strain on the spine and neck. Keep the hose in front of your body at waist height, use both hands to push the vacuum, and walk straight across the carpet, then turn and go back. Avoid pushing and pulling in short little strokes.
- For bathtub cleaning, stand outside the tub with a long mop rather than sitting and leaning over the side.
- If you're washing high windows, use a secure ladder or step stool to stay level with the window rather than stretching your back and neck upwards for long periods of time. The same goes for painting.
- Lift items such as mulch, flower pots and other heavy objects by bending your knees and lifting with your legs rather than your back. Keep items close to your body and use both hands.
- Pull weeds with your legs and abdominal muscles tightened .
- Spring cleaning can be great exercise. Consider it a workout instead of work!
Original article and pictures take images.agoramedia.com site
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий