Preventing Holiday Injuries
Holidays may be the most joyous time of the year, but it is also the most injury-prone season. Make time to prepare for a happy and safe time with your family and friends, and make it through the holidays unscathed by preventing common holiday injuries.
At Physicians Premier, your Cibolo, TX emergency room, we’re always on the lookout for ways to keep you and your loved ones safe. Whether you are preparing food or tackling your friends and siblings at the annual family game, safety is essential!
Christmas day is a busy day for the family, offering a lot of opportunities for mishaps. Prevent accidents and reduce stress levels by having a plan well in advance. Here are some tips to keep you out of our emergency room during the holidays. Please take the time to share this article with your family and friends.
1. Preventing kitchen injuries
Practice proper kitchen safety with these tips:
- Keep children away from the kitchen, especially young toddlers. Toddlers running underfoot with carving knives on the counter, stove burners on, and pans with hot drippings can be a recipe for disaster.
- Everyone is anxiously waiting for one of the biggest meals of the year. However, be sure to keep extra people out of the kitchen.
- Stay attentive, especially while you are cooking.
- To avoid accidentally knocking pots over, keep the pot handles away from the edge of the stove.
- It is also best to keep a fire extinguisher close to the kitchen.
2. Preventing alcohol-related injuries
Drink responsibly at all times. To reduce alcohol-related injuries, drink no more than 2 standard drinks on any given day.
- Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach. It’s best to eat before and while you are drinking.
- Pour your own drinks so you can keep count of your standard drinks.
- Avoid refilling a half-empty glass.
- Check the label for the percentage of alcohol.
- If you are going to drive, avoid having even one alcoholic drink.
3. Preventing sports injuries
If an annual game of football is part of your family’s Christmas tradition, you need to be extra careful. To avoid knee sprain, an ankle injury, or a broken bone, it’s always a good idea to:
- Remember that even gentle physical activity can cause injuries. To prepare your body for the activity, it’s best to start working out before the game.
- Wear appropriate sports gear, including shoes and clothes.
- Go for a friendly game of flag football or tag. Avoid tackle football.
- Do not join the game if you’ve been drinking.
- Warm-up before the game. Do some stretching, a little jog, and some jumping jacks.
- Stop playing if you feel any kind of pain. If the pain is severe, head to your nearest Cibolo, TX emergency room.
Have a safe and happy Christmas holiday with your family! If you need us, all Physicians Premier facilities are open 24/7.
