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Ladder
safety key in decorating
Once
again it’s time to climb into the attic and drag out those Christmas lights
that somehow have migrated over the past year into the most inaccessible part
of your attic.
Not only do you get to b el ly -c r aw l
across the rafters dra g ging
tangled bunches of lights, you also get to check every bulb in 20-foot
strands of lights before you finally find that one bur ned-out
bulb. It’s hard to imagine Christmas without these frustrations. Luckily the
smiles on the kids’ faces always make it seem worthwhile.
In our valiant effort to hang lights from every corner of our home, we
often use unsafe ladder practices, increasing our chances of injuries. Over
the years I’ve seen many ladder accidents, and all too often injuries caused
by these falls are severe.
Trying to recover from a fall is not how any of us want to spend this
Christmas season, so let’s see if I can help with a few tips about ladders
safety.
First of all, if you’ve indulged in holiday cheer a little early, you
need to stay off the ladders. You may think you can climb that ladder with
one hand tied behind your back, but it’s not going to happen. Alcohol and
ladders don’t mix.
Place the ladder on a firm and level surface at about a 70-degree
angle.
Place your toes against the feet of the ladder, and your hands should
rest comfortably on the rung in front of you to get the proper climbing
angle.
You’re asking for trouble if you set your ladder on soft ground or you
throw it up on a slant because you don’t want to take the time to properly
level the ladder. After extending the ladder three rungs above the area where
the ladder rests, make sure the locks are engaged. It’s a good idea to keep
your eyes on those power lines also.
Aluminum ladders conduct electricity, and I would hate to see you lit
up like a Christmas tree.
Keep your body centered over the ladder and climb with a smooth
motion, always maintaining three points of contact with the ladder. Never step
on rungs above the gutter. This can cause the ladder to kick out at the
bottom. When working off the ladder do not over reach and, once again,
maintain three points of contact with the ladder.
Hopefully, with a little more caution you can survive the ordeal
associated with lights, bringing smiles to those who love you.
24/7/365: You call; we res p o n d .
KENNETH LEE KNIGHT is a battalion chief in the High Point Fire
Department. He can be contacted at kenneth.knight@highpointnc.gov.
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