Home is where the heart is – and injuries
Did you know you’re more likely to get injured around the home than anywhere else? Half of the two million claims we receive each year are for home-based injuries.
You may think you’re most at risk of getting injured when doing physically challenging activities like water skiing or mountain biking.
But it turns out the home is actually one of the most dangerous places you can be.
And when you think about dangers around your house, you might think about climbing a ladder or slipping in the shower.
But it turns out it’s actually the mundane, everyday tasks that cause thousands of injuries every year.
In each of the past five years, an average of more than 10,500 people received ACC cover for injuries related to doing the washing, while more than 7,300 people had claims accepted for injuries related to clothing or getting dressed.
Most injuries were to the lower back or spine, followed by the shoulder. The vast majority were soft tissue injuries like strains, sprains and bruises.
Hidden risks in the home
“The most common injuries in people’s homes are caused by slips, trips and falls, as well as by lifting and carrying things,” says James Whitaker, ACC injury prevention leader.
“One of the most common causes of injuries is when people are doing the laundry. They’re lifting things that are way too heavy, way too bulky and awkward, and they’re doing it in ways that are hurting them.”
The rate of home-based injuries when compared to activities generally perceived as being more dangerous is surprising.
More people get injured doing the washing each year than playing cricket, while we accept more washing-related injury claims every year than claims related to boxing, horse riding and water skiing combined.
Handy hints to stay safe
James has some handy hints to stay safe when doing your laundry.
“The best way to do it and be injury free is to do lots of small loads. Hang up each load at a time instead of putting heaps into one basket,” he says.
“And when you do lift those washing baskets, have a nice straight back, avoid twisting and try to keep it as light as possible.”
But doing the laundry is far from the only potential hazard in the house.
We also accept about 350 claims each year for vacuuming injuries, 540 claims for microwave-related injuries and 480 claims related to kitchen blenders.
‘Have a Hmmm’ around your house
The good news is that James says most home-related injuries can be avoided, and there is no harm in delaying some tasks to reduce the chance of injury.
“People are much more likely to get injured if they’re tired and aren’t focusing entirely on the task they’re tackling,” he says.
“To stay injury-free, take some time to get your energy back, and do one thing at a time instead of doing everything all at once.
“When you’re about to tackle a task, take the time to ‘Have a hmmm’ before you get stuck in – think about the best ways to avoid injuries and then do things the safe way so you can get the job done.
“Then it’s time for you to go and have some fun!”
