Just their remote locations make it important to prevent injuries at the cottage. At the cottage, you’re probably much further from the medical attention that you are at home. And that problem is worse the more remote your cottage is or if it’s a water-access cottage.
You also might not even be near the cottage or a vehicle when you get hurt. Of course, there’s no saying you’ll be immobile, but pain hurts. The added distance is not just more time until you can get treatment, it’s more time with pain and discomfort.
How to Prevent Injuries at the Cottage
It pays to be a little more mindful of personal safety at the cottage. From being more active to walking on rocky, uneven terrain and even getting too close to the dock’s edge, there are far more safety hazards at the cottage than at home.
Here are a few tips you can use to prevent injuries at the cottage.
1. Stretch Before Heading Out in the Morning
You never know what your day will bring to the cottage. But whether it’s a day of sun and fun, or chores and, well, more chores, you run the risk of injury. From lifting the boat trailer to cutting wood, you can expose your body to stresses it isn’t used to. Stresses that can injure you. Even a few minutes of stretching can warm up your muscles and reduce your injury risk.
If you want to take it one step further, work on your core stability with crunches and leg raises. From swimming to starting the fishing boat, a strong core will help you prevent injury and have more support for most of what you do around the cottage.
2. Be Mindful Throughout the Day
Cottage days really do take their own course and you can never know what you’re doing from one moment to the next. Be mindful of everything you do. Instead of rushing to help lift the boat, take a moment to get a solid grip, straighten your back and remember to lift with your legs. And always keep your eyes on the ground whenever you’re walking on uneven, rocky or pebbled surfaces.
3. Take the Time to Use the Right Tools
You want to finally get that rock out of the way. But the shovel you can use for leverage is way down at the dock. So you give it a go anyway. Not only will the rock still be in the way, but you could be in the hospital. You’re at the cottage, you have the time to do things right.
4. Wear the Right Gear
In addition to things like sun protection, it can be a big mistake to do your cottage chores in shorts, flip-flops and sunglasses. Especially footwear, the right gear, including eye protection when needed, is one of the best ways to prevent injury. On the boat, a life preserver can keep you alive if you suffer a head injury and fall into the water.
You could set yourself up to prevent injuries at the cottage by starting before you leave home. Staying fit helps your body manage more stress and movement. And being treated for existing conditions can stop them from becoming worse. Call PinPoint Health to learn more.
