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BACK-SAVING SAFETY TIPS
During the holidays, you’ll probably spend a great deal of time in the kitchen. Here are some ways to watch your back and place items strategically to ensure a safer environment for everyone who’s cooking.
Set Up for Easy Access
Place most-commonly used items on lower shelves or on the countertop. Store heavy items at waist level. “Reachers,” or grabbing tools, can be used to retrieve lighter items from higher shelves.
When looking in low cabinets, go down on one knee instead of bending at your waist. If this is difficult, or you need to stay in the position for a period of time to find what you need, sit in a chair or on a step stool.
When you need to remove dishes or pots from lower cabinets, again go down on one knee and support yourself with one hand on the countertop. Then remove only one item at a time. Better yet, plan ahead and ask for help removing heavier items. They’ll then be at counter level when you need them.
Take Time to Prep
Save your energy. Cook ahead and freeze so you don’t have to do everything in one or two days.
Whether chopping onions, making stuffing or shelling peas, get off your feet and work at a table, sitting in a straight-backed chair.
To fill a large pot with water, place the pot on the counter and use your spraying device to avoid lifting a filled pot from the sink. Or, place the pot on the burner first and relay the water to it, using a saucepan. (You can also carefully remove some of the boiling water with a saucepan before you pour your potatoes or pasta into a colander to drain.)
If you have a double oven, place heavier pans and casseroles in the top oven for easier removal. When using a lower oven, be sure to bend at the knees when removing or turning pans.
Note: If heavy roasting pans and cast-iron cookware are starting to weigh too much for you to maneuver them easily, it might be time to switch to lighter cookware or disposable aluminum pans. You can always transfer food to your fine dishes for serving.
Ease the Clean Up
When standing for prolonged periods of time—washing dishes at the sink, for instance—open the lower cabinet door and place one foot on the bottom shelf. This alleviates pressure and reduces back pain.
To avoid back injury, avoid twisting your back when performing tasks such as loading and unloading the dishwasher (or clothes dryer). Instead, turn your entire body to place or remove items.
And don’t forget: Turn pot handles in to avoid knocking pots over, clean up all spills quickly and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Many hands make light work…and can save backs, too.
The information in this article is not intended to take the place of formal assessment of a person’s situation or abilities. Caregivers should always receive instructions from a healthcare provider before implementing the instructions given here.
