Accident Prone? 6 Tips For Prevention

Blunders can happen anywhere, whether you’re walking into a restaurant or getting out of the bathtub. While it is a little known fact that most accidents happen at the home, injuries can happen anywhere. Here are six tips for preventing injuries in every environment.

1. Stretch your muscles

Runners and athletes always stretch before doing any type of activity. This preliminary exercise prevents sprained ankles and pulled muscles because it helps to strengthen ligaments. Stretching will prove to be extremely useful in preventing accidents that result from continuous labor intensive activity and other work-related tasks. Touching your toes is a good example of a stretching exercise which will loosen up those muscles.

2. Wear knee pads

If you are working in a work environment which might require you to be on your knees for long periods of time, it’s a good idea to wear pads. House-cleaners or janitors might benefit from this safety tip. Knees can get bruised and cut as a result of spending a lot of time on the floor. Knee pads offer sufficient protection so that you can work more efficiently.

3. Be aware of wet floor signs

Because of their small size, “caution wet floor” signs can sometimes be overlooked if not paying attention. These signs can be found at restaurants and in the workplace. They are placed there to warn employees and patrons that the floor is slippery enough to create a fall. Never judge how safe a floor is to walk on by its appearance; even a floor that appears dry may still have slippery spots. Following these precautions may prevent injuries that eventually lead to a concussion or even paralysis.

4. Use gloves when handling hot or sharp objects

Sometimes human beings have the tendency to think that they are invincible and do not take all of the precautions they need to. It’s always a good idea to protect your hands when using sharp knives or handling hot pans by wearing gloves. This will prevent a majority of burns and cuts that can last several days.

5. Bend at the knees when lifting heavy objects

Most people suffer back injuries from not lifting properly. When lifting heavy boxes, bend at the knees so that you are using your entire weight to lift. Injuries such as herniated discs and pulled back muscles are a common phenomenon among warehouse workers and other laborers who have not been educated on the proper lifting procedure.

6. Use safety goggles when around hazardous materials or chemicals

Mechanics, sheet metal workers, and lab technicians who are working in a dangerous environment for long periods of time should heed this advice the most. Particles can fly up out of nowhere, causing eye injuries if the correct precautions are not taken. Face masks are also a good idea to protect the lungs against harmful toxins in the air which can be inhaled.

Hopefully, these tips will serve as helpful pointers that you can keep in mind as you go through your day. Whether handling hot objects or loading a truck in a warehouse, it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you happen to find yourself in a situation that has left you out of work or suffered an injury that you feel was not your fault, contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer to represent you.

Molly Henshaw is a law student and a contributing writer for the Philadelphia law firm McMahon, McMahon & Lentz . She highly recommends keeping a personal injury attorney on speed dial if you are prone to accidental injuries!

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Posted by Cherrell Tarantino on June 25, 2012. Filed under Health, The List. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry