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Key Points
- Urgent care centers witness a surge of injuries during holiday seasons, many of which could be avoided with caution and common sense.
- Accidental poisonings often occur due to unfamiliarity with certain spices and decorative plants used during the holidays. It's important to know which plants are poisonous to avoid potential harm.
- Burn injuries are common, usually resulting from cooking, electrical mishaps, or candle displays. It's advised to keep candles out of reach of children and pets, and to ask for help when feeling overwhelmed.
- Falls, often from attempts to install decorations in high or slippery places, are a frequent cause of holiday injuries. Hiring professionals for such tasks and avoiding overloading home circuitry can prevent such accidents.
- Car accidents also increase during the holidays due to factors like exhaustion, alcohol, unfamiliarity with snowy conditions, and pressure to reach destinations quickly. Practicing safe driving habits, knowing one's limits, and planning ahead can help avoid these incidents.
Urgent care centers are staffed with nurses and doctors who look to
the holidays with a mix of anticipation and exasperation. In spite of
frequent warnings and safety cautions, they still see the yearly parade
of hurt revelers. Many of these injuries could be avoided.
1. Accidental Poisonings
You are cooking with unknown spices and hanging up decorative plants with unknown qualities. While you might not be able to tell apart holly berries from Jerusalem cherries, neither one of them should be put inside your holiday stew. It's a good idea to know which plants are poisonous to kids, adults and even pets this holiday season.
2. Burns
Walk-in clinics are filled with holiday cooks who got burned at the stove, hobby decorators who got an electrical burn, and those who planned an elaborate candle display only to be faced with an accidental fire. As a general rule of thumb, keep candles out of reach of pets and children. In some cases, this might mean opting for the electrical ones rather than the wax versions.
Ask for help. It is easy to get stressed, frazzled or super busy and make bad decisions when in a hurry. Ask for help with planning, hosting and cleaning up your holiday parties and events.
3. Falls
Why did you climb on the roof? Sure, you intended to place the plastic light-up Santa Claus in position, but was it really worth the broken ankle or sprained shoulder? If there is snow on the roof or you generally get squeamish when you reach the top three rungs of the ladder, hire someone to do the setup for you. Use common sense. If you do not usually add 10 appliances to your home's circuitry, do not do it over the holidays. If you do not usually climb up onto the roof for regular maintenance, do not do it in the winter to add decorations.
4. Car Accidents
It seems like everyone who is not cooking is on the road to somewhere. In some cases, this includes drivers from warmer climates who are now driving in the snow for the first time. Car accidents are bound to happen. Leave early, give yourself plenty of time, and give the driver ahead of you plenty of space.
Use common sense. It is easy to succumb to family pressure
and leave at the crack of dawn to drive somewhere. Yet if you have not
had enough sleep, you are more likely to suffer an accident. Know your
limits. Do not drive when you are exhausted. In the same vein, do not
drive after you had alcohol to drink. If you are visiting in an area
where the elevation is above what you are used to, there is a good
chance that you may feel more easily affected by exhaustion or alcohol.
While
the problems run the gamut from the dog that eats the chocolates to the
in-laws who show up unannounced in their 40-foot RV, urgent care
locations warn that you might want to keep your eyes open for these four
common holiday dangers.
Frequently asked questions
What are some common injuries seen at urgent care centers during the holidays?
Common injuries seen at urgent care centers during the holidays include accidental poisonings, burns, falls, and car accidents.What precautions should be taken while using unknown spices and decorative plants during the holidays?
It's important to know the properties of the spices and plants you're using. Certain plants can be poisonous to kids, adults, and pets, so it's best to avoid using them in food or as decorations if you're unsure.What are some safety measures to prevent burns during the holiday season?
To prevent burns, keep candles out of reach of pets and children, and consider using electric candles instead of wax ones. Also, when cooking or decorating, don't rush and ask for help if needed to avoid accidents.How can holiday-related falls be prevented?
Falls can be prevented by using common sense and not taking unnecessary risks. For example, if you're not comfortable climbing onto the roof to set up decorations, hire a professional instead.What tips are there for safe driving during the holiday season?
To ensure safe driving during the holidays, leave early to give yourself plenty of time, maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you, and avoid driving if you're tired or have consumed alcohol.How does exhaustion or alcohol affect driving at high elevations?
At higher elevations, you may feel more easily affected by exhaustion or alcohol, which can impair your ability to drive safely.What are some unexpected problems that might lead to a visit to an urgent care center during the holidays?
Unexpected problems that could lead to a visit to an urgent care center include pets eating harmful substances like chocolate, or unexpected guests causing stress and potential accidents.What are some general safety tips to avoid common holiday dangers?
General safety tips include knowing the properties of the plants and spices you're using, keeping candles out of reach of children and pets, not taking unnecessary risks when setting up decorations, and not driving if you're tired or have consumed alcohol.
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