Back Down

When a was a little chap, my Dad, Fred, made sure I would have a craft to fall back on if times got hard.  We built barns and fences for the 4-H project and did all the maintenance work at home and up here at the Old Place.  It was the best time of my life.  It wasn't work, I was just having fun with Dad. Now, regardless of where we were working, what we were working on or who we were working with safety was always there. Good, honest, safe labor, but what happens when someone is GUILTY, guilty of an unsafe act, like. . . Improper Lifting!  Sheriff, slap the cuffs on and Mirandise this poor person. . .

Sheriff - "You have the right to remain silent.  If you give up the right to remain silent (and you most likely will) anything you say while screaming from the pain will be heard up and down the street!  You have the right to an attorney, but even he will not be able to take your pain away.  Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?"

Okay, so I'm having a little fun with you folks.  Odds are you all know how to lift safely.  The challenge is actually doing it.  Most back injuries are not the result of trauma but rather from bending over or twisting while lifting.

The curious thing is, it doesn’t matter how much you are lifting.  Just bending over to pick up paper off the floor can cause an injury that could leave you debilitated for months.  Yes, months!

Rehabbing a bulging disc takes serious drugs, often several epidurals in your back and serious physical therapy.  This  Is  Going  To  Hurt. . . A  Lot!

That’s the bad news.  The good news is you can prevent back injuries by simply taking the time to lift correctly: bend your knees, keep your head up, put one foot slightly ahead of the other and (Wtih appologies to Chubby Checker) do not Twist for any reason.   Instead do a little Cajun Two-Step an' move you' feet yeah!

Do that, and always get help with awkwardly shaped loads, any load over 30 pounds or any time you are unsure. The most important thing to remember is to STOP and take a moment to assess the situation you are facing.  Ask yourself:

• Is there a lot of stuff to handle?  The more you have to do, the more likely you will lose focus, become tired and forget to lift safely.
• Is the work area congested?  Could you slip, trip or fall down?
• Are there things in your way that you will have to reach over?

It only takes a second to injure your back so severely that your pain will be almost unendurable.  And remember, you will not be able to return to work for a while, especially if you sit at a desk. This  Is  Going  To  Cost  Money!

Oh and one last thing.  If you are the one who has to take care of the injured person:

• You will miss work too
• You will get very little sleep too, and to add insult to injury. . .
• If you are not very careful, you could injure your back just helping out!  

Are you guilty of unsafe lifting?  Think about it. . .

Sitting in a rocker at the Old Place, I am Col. Jim.