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Spring Cleaning Safety
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It’s time to spring clean and
you’ve got your mops, brooms and ladders ready. But before you
clear out the cobwebs, organize the garage or tackle your jungle
of a backyard, add one more tool to your cleaning
arsenal—caution. Injury in the home accounts for one-third of
all injuries in the United States, according to the Home Safety
Council. The following tips can help keep you or your loved ones
from becoming a statistic during this spring cleaning season.
Be kind to your back. “Spring cleaning often means lifting heavy
items, which can lead to back injuries such as muscle strains
and sprains, or herniated disks, if done improperly,” says
Vimal George, M.D., a
family practitioner with The
Austin Diagnostic Clinic. “Don’t attempt to move an object
without thinking about where it’s being moved to and evaluating
whether you can lift that amount of weight safely. If you have
any doubts, ask someone to help you. You can also rent a cart or
dolly at local home improvement stores.” |
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If you decide that you’re able to
carry an object, use good lifting techniques. “Take a quick look
around to make sure that there’s nothing for you to trip over
and that small children are out of the way. To lift safely, bend
at the knees and not from your back,” advises Dr. George. “Keep
objects close to your body and lift slowly. When putting an item
down in a location that is below chest height, bend your knees
again and lower the item carefully, making sure your toes and
fingers aren’t in a position to get crushed.”
Careful with chemicals. Chemicals used to clean the house, clear
weeds from the garden or polish the car can cause severe
injuries or even death to careless adults or curious kids and
family pets. “Before you use a cleaning product, make sure you
take the time to read the instructions,” advises Dr. George.
“Never, ever mix different cleaning products; certain
combinations of chemicals can create harmful gases that can
scald your throat or eyes. Also, always open windows or doors
for ventilation when using chemicals. To be extra safe, consider
using non-toxic cleaners such as vinegar and water.”
Other ways to prevent chemical injuries include wearing
protective clothing such as gloves, long sleeves and pants.
“Many common cleaners can burn the skin if it’s not protected,
and pesticides can be absorbed through the skin and may cause
health problems,” says Dr. George.
Most importantly, put away all cleaning products when you’re not
using them. “Kids and pets may like the smell of a cleaner and
may try to taste it,” explains Dr. George. “Arrange to have a
friend or family member take small children and pets out of the
house while you’re cleaning. Store chemicals high out of reach
and put the number for poison control on your refrigerator, just
in case.”
Fall into safe habits. It’s funny when people fall off ladders
in TV commercials. But in real life, ladder falls can lead to a
trip to the emergency room. “It’s definitely a better choice to
use a ladder instead of trying to balance on a chair or a stack
of boxes,” says Dr. George. “But you have to follow certain
precautions.”
Place the ladder on solid, even ground. Make sure the ladder’s
locks and braces are in place and that your shoes and the ladder
rungs are dry. Even if a ladder seems sturdy, always have
someone hold the base. Once you’re climbing, pay attention to
the warning signs on the rungs that indicate when you shouldn’t
climb any higher. Never sit down on the ladder to take a break
because the top step won’t be able to hold your weight. And
don’t overreach or try to move or lift something heavy when
you’re on a ladder, which could throw your balance off and cause
you to fall.
“It’s also important to point out that ladders aren’t the only
cause of falls,” says Dr. George. “Window falls can result in
injury, too. Children are particularly at risk. If you’re
opening a window for ventilation, open the top part. Don’t think
a screen will be strong enough to stop a child from falling. If
you’re cleaning windows, finish the job and shut the window and
lock it before you move on to another chore.”
Make your home safer. Protecting yourself from injury while
you’re spring cleaning is important, but so is year-round home
safety. “Use spring cleaning as an opportunity to make sure your
home has working smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide detector,”
say Dr. George. “Place a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and
take the time to develop or review your family’s fire escape
plan. A few minutes of planning this spring may save the lives
of your loved ones later.”
Vimal George, M.D., is a board certified family practitioner
at The Austin Diagnostic Clinic, a multi-specialty clinic with
more than 120 physicians representing 24 medical specialties at
six locations throughout Austin and Central Texas. Visit
www.adclinic.com or call 512-901-1111.
Spring Cleaning Hazards
That Are Easy to Miss
• Flammable liquids. You’ve finally painted the kitchen and
gassed up the weed wacker. But make sure you store paint,
paint thinner, gas and other flammable liquids away from heat
and make sure they’re tightly closed.
• Piles of newspaper or rags. All the newspapers are bundled
and the clothes you’re not giving to charity are in plastic
bags. But don’t stop there. Take them to a recycling bin or
dump instead of storing them in the garage where they can help
feed a fire.
• Poisonous plants. Before you rip out the weeds, make sure
you take a quick look for poison ivy and poison oak, which can
cause painful, itchy skin rashes.
• Power tools. Electric tools and battery-powered tools can
make cleaning up and repairing easier, but make sure you know
how to use them before you turn them on. Never try to fix a
tool or loosen debris from a tool when it’s on. And never
leave an electrical tool plugged in when you aren’t using it
because someone could trip on the cord. Long extension cords
are also strangling hazards.
• Standing water. It’s hard to believe, but a child can drown
in just a few inches of water. Never leave buckets of water
unattended, and empty any pots or other holders that may have
filled with rainwater. Make sure you clean up any standing
water you may have spilled in the house to avoid slipping and
falling.
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