The holidays should be times of joy and delight, not hospital stays and recovery. However, an alarming number of people end up seeking emergency medical care every holiday season. Let’s face it: the holidays can be dangerous, but here are some tips to staying safe in the next few weeks.
One holiday injury culprit is the ladder. With decorations to hang and gifts to hide at the back of the closet, people climb more than normal during the winter holidays. If you’re going to be getting a few feet of elevation for any task, follow good safety procedures. Avoid standing on items that weren’t meant to support you — such as plastic storage tubs — and have a second person stabilize what you’re standing on.
The roadways are another obvious suspect in holiday injuries, which is why our other tips are related to driving. First, know that roads around the holidays are busier than normal and that winter weather conditions can exist.
Plan to leave earlier than normal when you have to be somewhere so you can take your time driving, and always pay attention to what is going on on the roadway. Put crayons and holiday-themed coloring books in the car to keep kids occupied and quiet during difficult drives.
Holiday drinking can increase issues on the road, so avoid the spiked egg nog if you’re going to get behind the wheel.
Since you can’t force other people to follow all these tips, if you are involved in an accident that was caused by someone else, reach out for assistance from a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. It’s your life and future, so don’t put off making a call just because it’s the holidays.
Source: CBS News, “Holiday health hazards: How to stay safe this season,” Mary Brophy Marcus, Dec. 15, 2016
