Happy Monday Morning! Today I want to share about the dangers of the BUNGEE! Yes - that elastic treasure we may use when Staging to secure our goods when transporting from our storage facilities to a job (or in our everyday lives as well).
On Friday, I learned a hard lesson - BEWARE OF THE FLYING BUNGEE! We were loading up our pictures - and our movers had overstacked our pictures so that 2 of them fell and glass broke. Aargh. They were using straps but the weight was too much. After telling them to divide up the stack and more evenly distribute the weight, I suggested using a bungee cord in addition to the strap.
I had no sooner handed the other end to our mover where he was securing his end, when THWAP!! Right in my face!! It took me a moment to realize what had happened and then I realized it nailed me right on my right lip and mouth! Swelling and bleeding immediately started and I rushed to examine the damage in a mirror praying I did not crack a tooth or need stitches. Let's just say it looked like I had gone a few rounds and I have a huge bruise on my mouth inside and nice violet discoloration on my upper lip. The good news is that before it hit me, it actually hit the mover in the leg and ricocheted my way - which helped break the speed and impact.
Ice cubes for swelling and Neosporin for infection and I am a little worse for the wear - will probably have a scar where the metal end snapped my face and I have a good story to tell . . .This week when I teach, I will probably share that some Realtor did not want to Stage or someone moved my stuff and we had a scuffle (ha ha).
But seriously, it was a good lesson - and I was lucky. The guy at my storage facility shared that his friend lost an eye in that same scenario - and it could easily have cracked my tooth, or an orbital bone - again, I was lucky. And so for our MONDAY morning at AR I encourage us all to practive BUNGEE CORD safety!
These are my tips:
1. First, do NOT stand at head/eye level with any bungee cord that is being attached. EVER.
2. Make sure the person affixing the bungee on the other end knows what they are doing!
3. Use 2 bungee cords together if the tension is too much for one to handle.
4. Probably the best advice - get those straps that hold your stuff down - Bungee cords be gone!
Happy Staging (with a fat lip and all) . . . Jennie
Ouch! So glad you are alright and it wasn't more serious! I hate bungees for that exact reason. Try these instead: Ratchet Straps.
MUCH safe and more versatile in my humble opinion. :)
ooohhhh poor you Jennie. I'm so glad that your injuries weren't worse. --Knowing that you have a great sense of humor I know you won't be offended when I suggest you may have to drape a throw over your head during class this week!
Oh c'mon everyone..... you know I'm just kidding and so does Jennie! Don't forget the ice packs!
Now that's something I might have done! Thanks Jennie for the heads up!
Kathy Dyer
Hey all - thanks for your kind words - and even though I am adding humor to the sharing of the experience - it's good to remember safety when Staging - with our tools and other things we use! Things happen in a split second that could have permanent impacts!
- Jennie
A good reminder to all of us!
Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging
Hi all - thanks for your kind words - I really appreciate it! Glad my mishap can hopefully prevent you from getting thwapped in the mouth or face or other body part!! What I need to find is some vitamin E - gel caps or something so that the scar that may form is discouraged from arriving! Any ideas on where to go - a Longs Drugs or ?? - Jennie
"chokecherry" what you call a cherry pit that is swallowed instead of spit out
Jennie,
Glad you are okay! I once was hit square in the face with a tennis ball full force and WOW did that hurt. I was stunned at first and didn't know what hit me, then I realized I was in pain and a lot of it! Bungees can be dangerous, thanks for the reminder, & hope you heal quickly.
Penny White
Beststagedesign Inc.