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The holiday season is up and running, and this week on Health Watch we’ll offer some tips to help you get ready. One big task for many is decorating the outside of our homes with lights. That can be a dangerous job, and more than half a million people a year seek medical treatment for ladder-related injuries.
Dr. Robert Bucholz, an orthopaedic surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says properly setting up and using the ladder when you hang holiday lights can significantly lower your risk for injury. The ladder should be set up on a stable, flat surface. Inspect the ladder before use and set it up correctly, following the instructions on the ladder and making sure that it’s one foot away from the wall for every four feet the ladder rises. Position the ladder close to your work area and move it as your work moves instead of leaning to reach.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/orthopaedics/ to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in orthopaedics.
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December 2008
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