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This week on Health Watch, we’ve been talking about health issues that affect men, from serious problems such as prostate cancer to irritants such as athlete’s foot. Dad probably gets a day of rest on Father’s Day, but when he’s having to work around the house, he needs to take safety precautions, especially if he’s using a ladder.
More than half a million people a year need medical attention because of accidents involving ladders. Dr. Robert Bucholz, an orthopaedic surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says knowing how to properly set up and use a ladder can prevent a lot of injuries. Whether you’re cleaning out the gutters or retrieving a Frisbee from the roof, be sure to inspect the ladder and set it up the right way before you use it. It should be placed on a firm, level surface and should be one foot away from the wall for every four feet the ladder rises. Don’t use the ladder as a seat between tasks, and you should move the ladder to where you’re working rather than leaning or stretching.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/orthopedics to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in orthopedic surgery.
