Health News
- Keep Your Home Safe
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom August is a popular time to pack up and take a vacation. But how secure is your home? With the rush to get packed and out the door on time, we often forget to carry out a home-safety check. A few quick and easy steps can keep...
- ?the 5-second Rule? And Food Safety
by Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Food safety advice is everywhere, and we?re always hearing debates about ?use by dates? and ?sell by dates? as well as the ?right? internal temperature for meat consumption. Yes, food-borne illness is a problem, and we?re always...
- Healthy Eating Tips For Traveling Families
Traveling With KidsWith Memorial day upon us and many families looking to travel, go to a cabin, water park or other fun adventures this weekend and summer, staying on track can be a challenge. This post I am putting out some tips we use to stay...
- Staying Safe This Weekend
Fireworks are one of the highlights of the Fourth of July holiday. However in the blink of an eye, a mistake can tragically turn their beauty into permanent injury, eye damage or blindness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,...
- Bike Helmets Are A Must
It?s the time of year to jump back on the bike and enjoy the spring weather. But before you head for the Gwynn Falls Trail, remember your bike helmet. Even experienced bike riders cannot always avoid collisions. According to the Centers for Disease Control...
Health News
Hidden Risk of Summer Travel : Luggage-Related Injury
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom
We all look forward to our family vacation, or some kind of travel during the summer months. And you?ll want to make sure you don?t accidentally injure yourself in at least one way that is totally avoidable.
I?m talking about your luggage ? from packing, to pulling, to lifting, here are some of my top tips to do it right, and get to your destination without a back or shoulder injury.
Get your empty suitcase off of the floor. Place your bags on a towel-covered bed or countertop to pack. Bending to the floor can add strain to your back. And remember to bend your knees when reaching down to the floor.
Avoid over-packing. This is something we?re all guilty of ? and a suitcase feels a lot lighter at home than it does when we?re dragging it around, whether by car, bus, air, or train. Some estimates recommend cutting your clothing ?allowance? in half. And use travel size containers for toiletries, to lighten up the weight from containers.
Choose a suitcase to roll, not pull. Update your luggage with a bag that has four wheels to roll along, and not the two-wheeled pull-alongs. Those two-wheelers can put a lot of strain on your back and shoulders.
Lift your bag with care. Use a two-step lifting technique: first to your chest, then second to the overhead bin of a plane, train, or bus. And don?t be afraid to ask for help. You?ll always find someone willing to help. (See ?overpacking? tip above to avoid this to begin with!).
What other travel tips can you offer? Have you had a luggage-related injury? Let me know!
- Keep Your Home Safe
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom August is a popular time to pack up and take a vacation. But how secure is your home? With the rush to get packed and out the door on time, we often forget to carry out a home-safety check. A few quick and easy steps can keep...
- ?the 5-second Rule? And Food Safety
by Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Food safety advice is everywhere, and we?re always hearing debates about ?use by dates? and ?sell by dates? as well as the ?right? internal temperature for meat consumption. Yes, food-borne illness is a problem, and we?re always...
- Healthy Eating Tips For Traveling Families
Traveling With KidsWith Memorial day upon us and many families looking to travel, go to a cabin, water park or other fun adventures this weekend and summer, staying on track can be a challenge. This post I am putting out some tips we use to stay...
- Staying Safe This Weekend
Fireworks are one of the highlights of the Fourth of July holiday. However in the blink of an eye, a mistake can tragically turn their beauty into permanent injury, eye damage or blindness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,...
- Bike Helmets Are A Must
It?s the time of year to jump back on the bike and enjoy the spring weather. But before you head for the Gwynn Falls Trail, remember your bike helmet. Even experienced bike riders cannot always avoid collisions. According to the Centers for Disease Control...