July 15, 2022

How to Avoid Injury While Moving Across the Country

With so many large objects to relocate, like pieces of furniture and appliances, it is extremely important to know how to avoid injury while moving. People often think that brute strength is the only important thing for heavy lifting, but such an opinion is the source of many horrific injuries. Carrying bulky objects requires special preparation and techniques if you want to perform everything safely on the relocation day.

Knowing how to appropriately carry weighty containers and objects is important

What are 3 guidelines for avoiding injury? As you will see further in the text, there are quite a few things to know about this issue. However, it can be summarized as follows. You should be well-rested and satiated. You should be acquainted with all appropriate techniques for carrying bulky objects. And finally, you should have all the necessary protective equipment and tools.

Relocation of Bulky Household Objects Should Be Treated as Every Other Physical Activity

There are a lot of methods and techniques that facilitate the carrying of bulky house objects, which you will be able to read about later in the text. However, no matter what tools and techniques are used, you will still have to use your strength. Hence, in a way, it is quite similar to practicing a sport, and often you will hear the question – “What are 8 ways to avoid injuries?”. Here are useful tips on how a person should prepare for and behave while engaged in physical activity:

  • Get your eight hours of sleep before the relocation day,
  • Have a proper breakfast,
  • Dress appropriately (comfortable shoes are most important),
  • Warm up your muscles,
  • Drink a lot of water,
  • Have snacks (bananas or energy bars are ideal),
  • Don’t exert yourself over the limit,
  • Take a breather whenever you feel the need for it.

The Help of Professional Movers Is Irreplaceable When It Comes to Relocating Bulky Objects

Before we start with the main topic of this article, we have to say that hiring long-distance moving services is the best way to go about this issue. If it suits your relocation budget, definitely consider booking long-distance movers as you will be spared all difficulties of furniture relocation, and more importantly, you will be able to move more efficiently.

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How Do You Keep Safe While Moving? The First Safety Tip Is to Have Everything Planned for the Relocation Day

Before relocating starts, you should make an exact new apartment checklist. It is extremely important to downsize for the move, as you don’t want to lose energy on useless items. All discarded furniture can be donated, and by doing so, the relocation expenses checklist can become much shorter.

Secondly, you should make a precise plan of the path along which everything will be carried to the truck. Preferably, it should be the shortest possible route. Therefore, the truck should be parked as closest to your place as it can be. And finally, everyone involved should know what their assignments are in order to prevent any unnecessary delays.

Besides a Clear Plan, You Will Need a Helping Hand in Order to Avoid Moving-Related Injuries

What is the best way to avoid injury when moving an object? If you have made a decision not to hire cross-country moving services, be sure to ask your friends for assistance. Carrying large household items alone is an extremely dangerous thing to do. First of all, few people have the strength to relocate a fridge by themselves. Secondly, most of the tools you will be using will require at least two persons. And finally, since you are moving away from your friends, this is a great way to spend precious time with them before relocating to a new state.

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How to Avoid Injury While Moving? The Golden Rule Is to Minimize Heavy Lifting as Much as Possible

One of the most common relocation tips you will get from cross-country movers is to dismantle everything that can be dismantled into smaller parts. All your bookcases, sofas, and beds can probably be disassembled completely. If you don’t know how to do it, double-check the original packaging. There is bound to be an instruction manual in there. If you can’t find it, there is always the trusty Youtube waiting to help.

You Shouldn’t Overload Your Boxes When Packing Smaller Items

Boxes are inseparable parts of every relocation, and it is not really worth saving on relocation costs here. You will have to pack books, plates, electronics, and pots and pans. Containers can become quite heavy when packing to the very top, and back problems often stem from lifting a heavy container carelessly. Furthermore, fragile items especially can easily get damaged if everything is packed tightly. You can always acquire free boxes if you are relocating on a tight budget from local storage services and home supplies stores.

Relocation Tools Are Necessary for Protection Against Injuries

What safety can be used to prevent injuries while lifting and shifting? There isn’t a single legitimate long-distance moving company whose workers won’t use professional tools when performing packing services. Fortunately, all these tools are available in your local home supplies stores, and here is what is necessary to have in order to move everything safely.

Lifting straps

These straps are incredibly useful for relocating large objects. For example, if you are relocating a piano, the body of this wonderful instrument cannot be lifted without this tool. Two persons are at least required. You simply put the ends on your shoulders and place the straps beneath the object. The way straps work is that they distribute the weight you are carrying evenly across the entire body.

Utility dolly

There are different types of dollies, the most common ones being two-wheeled and four-wheeled. They are ideal for carrying boxes and other containers as you can stack more than one. People often place wooden boards on top of them in order to increase stability, and this combination is perfect for carrying bulky dismantled parts.

Sliders

Sliders are small plastic tools that are placed beneath objects. In that way, you won’t have to lift them but rather push them across the surface, which is always a much safer thing to do. They are great for kitchen and bathroom appliances since they cannot be dismantled much. Finally, if you can’t get the sliders, a useful relocation hack is to get old towels, bed linen, and rugs and place them underneath objects. They will act pretty much as sliders do.

Stair rollers

Before we continue further, we have to say that carrying large items up and down the stairs is quite dangerous by itself. Tools do help a lot, but if you and your friends feel uncertain, don’t try anything without professional assistance. Stair rollers are quite similar to utility dollies. The difference is that stair rollers have straps, which you can use to further secure the load while descending or ascending stairs. One person should slowly push the roller down, while the other person should be at the other end in case the weight becomes too overwhelming.

Ramps

Ramps should be placed across every doorstep and other such obstacles. By doing so, you won’t have to lift anything but rather push and pull across the ramp.

You Should Have at Least Gloves on You When Relocating Bulky Objects

Although you certainly won’t require equipment used by construction workers, safety gear is always welcome. The general rule is that you shouldn’t wear anything with short sleeves while working. Comfortable footwear is also crucial, and trainers usually do the trick. From more professional gear, you should definitely wear gloves, but other equipment is welcome as well, especially head protective gear.

Relocation tools are necessary when relocating heavy home objects

What Are the Tips to Avoid Back Injuries? You Have to Know the Appropriate Technique

People often hurt their back when attempting to lift a weighty box without knowing what the right technique for doing so is. No matter how strong you are, unnatural movement can harm your back severely. Here is how to properly lift a heavier box:

  • Get as close as possible to the box with your feet apart at your shoulder length.
  • Never lift while bending downwards. This movement almost always results in back problems. Pick up the container from the squatting position. In this way, the weight is distributed across your entire body.
  • Try to tighten your abdominal muscles as much as you can while picking up the box.
  • Once you have picked it up, use your body as support. This means that you should carry the container close to your chest. The weight should never be carried just by using only your arms or one shoulder as support.

This is extremely important to learn as there will be many weighty boxes after you have packed electronics and other smaller objects. Hence, here is a video that has a visual representation of how to appropriately pick up and carry a heavier container.

How Can You Avoid Potential Injury When Pulling a Load?

As you have been able to read, there will be a lot of pushing and pulling. First of all, pushing is considered to be safer than pulling, but there are some general techniques that are applied to both movements:

  • Be close to the object.
  • Both hands should be placed on the object with elbows bent at 90 degrees.
  • Tighten your abdominal muscles as much as you can.
  • Always face the object that you are pushing or pulling.
  • Adjust the pace according to your capabilities.

Here Are Some Further Tips on How to Keep Yourself Safe When Relocating Sturdy Objects

Here is some more advice on organizing packing for the move and keeping yourself safe when carrying weighty stuff:

Clear the path

Before carrying anything to the truck, double-check whether the path is clear of obstructions. By obstructions, we mean literally anything that can get in the way, such as flower pots, chairs, and tables.

Adjust to weather conditions

If you are relocating in winter or during a rainy day, secure the path along which you will carry your stuff. This means covering the floors with cardboard in order for them not to get slippery, constantly shoveling the snow, and whatever else the weather conditions bring.

Measure doorways

Before you start loading or unloading, be sure that each and every object can pass through all doorways. People often try to force something through and end up hurting themselves and damaging their apartment.

Find someone to babysit your children

If you are relocating with kids, the best thing to do is find a babysitter for the relocation day. Otherwise, you could end up worrying about the safety of yourself and your children at the same time, and that is far from an ideal situation when relocating.

Be Sensible When Relocating Bulky Home Possessions

To conclude, if you don’t want to experience back pain after moving furniture, be realistic and make sensible decisions. The relocation tips in this article can help a lot, but if an item is simply too weighty and it doesn’t feel safe to move it, you absolutely shouldn’t attempt anything. There are many reasons to move to a new state and many great benefits of doing so. It is sad to ruin this wonderful experience by acting irresponsibly.

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