According to New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has designated the month of April as “Injury Prevention Month” in an effort to help educate the public about preventing needless injuries.
Injuries in our country alone cost the economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year, and that statistic is particularly shocking given the fact that most of these injuries could have been prevented.
Injury prevention starts with being alert and noting hazardous items and situations that surround you. Some of the most serious injuries reported by your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon involve the head and spine.
These two parts of the body control your foremost processes such as breathing, movement, swallowing, cognition and organ function. Consequently, injury to either of these two areas of the body can result in permanent paralysis and even death.
The workplace is a high-risk area for injuries. Those who work in the construction/manual labor industries are at the greatest risk, but even office workers must remain alert to avoid accidents such as slip and falls.
According to your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon, workplace injuries have cost the economy upwards of $160 billion every year, and this is a number that could be drastically reduced if more people took the necessary precautions.
A few ways to prevent injuries:
Pay attention to your environment like noticing different things around a room or while driving, which can end up preventing a potential accident or injury.
Wear appropriate clothing, particularly avoiding unnecessarily high heels at the office. Your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon finds that high heels can are often at fault for fall accidents, and a loose piece of clothing can snag on almost anything, which also increase the possibility of an injury.
Remove all distractions while driving; your focus needs to be on the road for the extent of the drive.
Exercise on a regular basis to keep muscles and joints supple and flexible and develop core strength, which aids in increasing your stability and agility.
Educating yourself about the potential injuries that surround you can go a long way in reducing the occurrences of needless injuries. New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer hopes that you take this information to heart, and help raise awareness about injury prevention during the month of April, and beyond.