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Each year, thousands of people in the UK move house. Some will be moving to a larger house thanks to the arrival of a new family member or perhaps a turn of financial fortune that has opened up new possibilities, whilst others will be downsizing after the kids have moved out to free up some of the cash tied up in their old house. Others still will be making the jump between renting and owning, and taking their first steps into the property market by buying their first house.
According to the experts, moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do. There is so much to organise with the solicitors and estate agents whilst going through the process of finalising the sale, and then you have everything to worry about when it comes to actually transferring all of your stuff from your old house to your new place.
The last thing you want to happen is an accident that results in you, your partner or any other member of your family suffering a personal injury. Unfortunately, all too many people have their plans for moving house disrupted and further complicated because they have had the misfortune to injure themselves whilst preparing for the big move.
This is backed up by research from Clydesdale Bank, which shows that as many as one in eight people in Scotland has suffered a personal injury whilst moving house. These injuries can vary greatly in severity, although 1% of the survey's respondents said that they had had to go to accident and emergency to have their injury treated.
Back injuries are one of the most common personal injuries that occur when people are moving house. There is an awful lot of awkward lifting and carrying involved when moving out and again when moving in, and with many people suffering from bad backs anyway, the back and spine are very vulnerable to injury on moving day.
However, lifting isn't the only cause of personal injury in people who are moving house. There are often a lot of boxes and other bulky possessions in the loft which need to be brought down, and falling from the loft ladder is something which injures many movers. Unfortunately, quite serious personal injuries can result from ladder accidents, such as damage to the back, head and legs.
Slips and trips are a leading cause of personal injury in the home, even when people are not lugging awkward boxes and furniture around. Add this factor, and they become even more likely, especially on the stairs. A slip on the stairs can mean anything from a nasty bruise and a few cuts to broken bones or a serious head injury, and could well be the reason many of the 1% of movers interviewed by Clydesdale Bank had to rush to A&E.
Even when all the boxes and furniture have been moved out, the risks aren't over for those who have rented a vehicle for transporting their possessions to their new house. An unfamiliar vehicle that is taking a lot of weight can be difficult to control for those are not used to such driving, and removal vans and cars towing trailers are quite often involved in road traffic accidents. Most of these vehicle accidents are minor; perhaps reversing into something with the trailer or misjudging the width of the van, but even these accidents can result in a painful whiplash injury.
Fortunately most people moving house get through the day in one piece, even if the experience is stressful. However, next time you have to pack up your possessions, remember to err on the side of caution rather than risk a personal injury. If you are struggling to pick up a cumbersome piece of furniture, get someone else to help, and if your loft ladder is wobbly, wait until someone is free to hold it steady for you. And whatever you do, watch your step when you are on the stairs.
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