Tips for preventing moving day injuries

When the big day of the move is approaching, it’s important to have everything planned out. You have to get boxes, think about how to pack everything, and pick out a reliable mover. You might even be inclined to do the moving yourself. As adventurous as that seems, it’s worth noting that moving does not come without its share of dangers. Luckily for you, we’re here to provide insight into these dangers, as well as give you tips for preventing moving day injuries.

Most common moving day injuries and avoiding them

Any moving company Germantown TN is proud to offer would tell you’d be wise to leave any big moves and relocations to professionals. The number one reason for this is the tendency for people to get hurt because they’re not instructed on staying safe on moving day. Here’s a short breakdown of the most common types of injuries:

• Bruising of fingers and toes – the least serious one on the list, but it’s still commonplace
• Muscle strain – the general wear-and-tear of muscles during moving makes muscle aches the next day virtually inevitable
• Head injuries – it’s not uncommon for people to bang their heads when moving furniture around
• Back strain – when lifting anything heavy, it’s important to let your knees do most of the work, back pains can stay with you for life
• Hernia – as preventing moving day injuries goes, this is the most important one to avoid as most hernias will typically require surgery to fix

While this list outlines the common dangers, they’re (for the most part) easy to dodge. We’ll dive right into some safety tips.

Take your time – careful preparation is key for reducing moving day injury chances

If by chance, you feel more inclined to leave your planned move to professionals, then some of the finest moving companies Memphis TN is home to will never disappoint. On the other hand, you might be more emboldened to do it yourself. If that’s the case, then the first step to safety on moving day is careful preparation. This means more than just picking out boxes. Preparation in this sense involves understanding the layout of your home. Take any stairs, doorways, and potential elevators into account. Make sure the larger furniture will fit through doors. And if the elevator isn’t big enough, you’ll need to hire professional help or enlist friends or family to help you haul the items down the stairs. You could also declutter the pathways you’ll be taking. This will ensure you don’t bump into something or trip over smaller items while carrying heavy furniture.

Dismantle furniture into component parts to ease transportation and ensure safety

If you’re handy with a screwdriver, you should always dismantle large shelves and wardrobes. Not only does this help keep you safe while carrying them, but it also means you don’t need to worry if they’ll fit through doors and elevators. Word to the wise though – make sure to label everything to save yourself the headaches during re-assembly. Dismantled furniture will also fit nicely in the backseat or the back of your car. More importantly, however, parts are so much safer to handle. Even your child could help carry them.

Wearing protective clothing is essential for preventing moving day injuries

This should almost go without saying. Beekeepers wouldn’t handle their hives without protecting their face first, would they? Make sure to put on some protective attire before you get to the heavy lifting. A pair of gloves will protect your hands and fingers from splinters and cushion possible pinching. Pants and long-sleeved shirts should prevent cuts and bruises for the most part. If you have any suitable headgear to protect your head, use it. All of this makes a difference between needing band-aids for a few days and wrapping up the move safely.

Use a utility dolly to push through moving day without getting hurt

If you’ll pardon the pun, the utility dolly is in fact one of the most helpful tools for moving. Assuming you can get your hands on one, it helps prevent moving day injuries by allowing you to simply load your things onto it and push in the desired direction. The smaller variant is perfect for simultaneous loading and moving several boxes at a time. But there’s also a wider variant that enables the loading of larger furniture. This helps keep the strain off your back and prevent any long-lasting back issues. You will count your blessings if you have this handy little tool for all the safety it provides.

Know your limits – listen to your body for tips on preventing moving day injuries

We would be remiss if we didn’t say a few words about your most important moving tool – your own body. While proper clothing and gadgets are important for staying safe on moving day, knowing your body and your limits will make the key difference. A hernia, which is something you definitely don’t want to get, is easily preventable. It’s as easy as simply asking yourself “is this too heavy to lift and carry”? Trust your muscles and never over-exert yourself! On the lighter side of things, you can mitigate most of the muscle strain by stretching. Make sure to breathe properly and take plenty of breaks if needed. Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say. As previously mentioned, when lifting something robust, never lift from your back. Let your knees do the lifting, and try to maintain proper posture as much as possible.

Staying safe on moving day is all about preparation

As you can see, there’s an abundance of tips for preventing moving day injuries. But it really all comes down to proper planning and preparation. We hope we’ve managed to teach you something for your next DIY move and that you’ll be able to use this knowledge. Happy moving!