I just completed the required annual safety courses today. Nine of them, course and test, in one breath!

Some of them are beneficial to all, especially for aging parents. Such as courses on Fire Safety, Driver Safety, and Back Safety. Honest, I was thinking of my backache and some of my friends who suffer from it when I took the course on Back Safety.

Here’s some highlights on Back Safety.
Low back pain is the most common work-related medical problem in the US and the second most common reason for doctor visits.

If affects more than 20 million people and is the leading cause of disability among people ages 19-45.

Low back is the No. 1 leading cause of missed work days, costing Americans $60 billion per year in treatments and American businessess about 15 billion annually.

At least 80% of all Americans will experience some form of low back pain at some point in their lives.

Your back consists mainly of spine, ligments, tendons, discs and others. Very often, it is disc herniation that causes your back pain.

Here are some factors that can cause disc herniation.
1) Lifestyle choices — tobacco use, lack of regular exercise, and inadequate nutrition contribute to poor disc health.

2) As the body ages, natural biochemical changes cause discs to gradually dry out affecting disc strength and resilliency.

3) Poor posture combined with the habitual use of incorrect body mechanics stresses the lumbar spine and affects its normal ability to carry the bulk of the body’s weight.

4) Lifting something heavy incorrectly can cause disc pressure to rise to several hundred pounds per square inch.

Well, we just try our best to avoid disc degeneration.
Here are some rules for heavy lifting:
1) Always think before you lift.
2) Never bend, Lift and Twist at the same time.
3) Use mechanical aids or assistance when possible.
4) Bend your knees and use your legs to lift.
5) Get help if needed.
6) Avoid jerky movements. Keep the natural curve in the spine;
7) Do not bend at the waist.
To turn, move the feet around by pivoting on the toes, not twisting at the stomach.

Happy fat fun fry day!