The month is of December is the time to exchange gifts, have feast with the family, watch fireworks, decorate the house and go out with your loved ones.
However, enjoying the season and welcoming the incoming year could also expose you to medical emergencies if proper safety precautions are not observed.
Here are the 5 common reasons why people get hospitalized during the holidays.
Food
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Back-to-back outings and gatherings come with lots of mouth-watering food on the table. It is also the time when you set aside your healthy diet for a little while.
That is when food poisoning, allergies and choking are most likely to happen. The more frequent and heavier you eat, the riskier it could be.
To avoid these, you need to make sure that you prepare your food with proper hygiene and store your leftovers in the fridge under correct temperature – at or below 40-degree Celsius – and do not keep your food lying around under room temperature for more than 2 hours as bacteria may start to form.
Also, better to know what you eat, chew your food properly and learn how to save someone or yourself from choking because it is better to promptly act during emergency than waiting for someone to help you.
Alcoholic Beverage
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Drinking and celebrations commonly go hand in hand. Being in the influence of too much alcohol can reduce a person’s brain function and focus to his/her surroundings. It is also the reason why car and pedestrian accidents happen.
The golden rule is to not drive when you are drunk. Also, it is best not to reach the level of intoxication and control your consumption.
Also, try to keep away the alcohol bottles and glasses from children as they may drink it.
Decorations
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In most parts of the world, decorating the holiday tree and the house is the most awaited activity during the holiday season. However, without proper monitoring, your fun activity may turn into a traumatic event.
Make sure that:
- small tree decorations are away from kids to prevent choking
- ensure that the wirings of the holiday tree lights are safe and not damaged to prevent electrocution
- buy tree lights that are compliant with the safety standards which you can see on the safety marks and label of the product to prevent overheating and electrical fires
- keep wirings and other decorations away from the walkways to avoid tripping
- if you have a natural tree, do not water it with the tree lights on
Fireworks
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Consumer fireworks are allowed in many places. If you want to use legal fireworks, make sure to use it with mindfulness and observe safety precautions.
- Supervise your children when they are handling fireworks
- Do not let a drunk person and very young children handle the firework
- Use the fireworks in a spacious outdoor area
- Keep a safe distance away from the firework once lighted
- do not re-light a firework that already malfunctioned
- prepare a pale of water on your side in case of fire
- keep your fireworks away from highly combustible items
Snow
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If snow is present in your place, it could increase your risk of a bad fall since it makes surfaces and stairs slippery. Make sure to always turn the lights on, make firm steps, use handrails, don’t leave clutter, and do not let kids run around these slippery areas.
Celebrations are fun when you are feel safe; take awareness into action and you will have just that!
Sources:
https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/summer/fireworks
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely
https://onlinefirstaid.com/blog
https://mdpremier.com/medical-emergencies-during-the-holidays-when-to-go-to-the-er/