Medical Emergencies During the Holidays: When to Go to the ER
The holiday season can be crazy, with family and friends coming in, preparing that scrumptious holiday feast, getting your home decorated, and finding that perfect gift. With all the commotion, the risk of suffering from an injury or having an accident increases.
When should you visit Physicians Premier, your ER in Corpus Christi? The number of holiday medical emergencies are higher at this time of the year, especially on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Below are some of the most common reasons why people visit the emergency room during the holidays.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency rooms across the United States could attend to about 15,000 injuries involving holiday decorating during the holidays. The numbers continue to rise each year.
Go to the emergency room right away if:
- You have cut yourself and your tendons and bones are visible
- You fall from a roof, stool, or ladder. You might have an internal injury or broken bone
- If you have mobility issues
- If you are experiencing severe pain
- If you lost consciousness after falling. This might signify a concussion
- Car crashes and trauma
These are among the top holiday emergencies, so we encourage you to drive safely, especially during the winter season. Stress, more people on the roads, alcohol consumption, and severe weather conditions contribute to road accident cases.
Regardless of whether alcohol was involved or not, every person who was involved in a car crash should go to the emergency room right away for evaluation.
- Overeating
Almost everyone is guilty of overindulging at this time of the year. However, those holiday treats and special holiday meals can give us some nasty problems. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that abdominal pain accounts for 7 million emergency room visits per year.
Overeating makes you more at risk of experiencing chest pains, heartburn, or worse, a heart attack. People who overindulge increase their risk of having food stuck in their esophagus, and run the risk of needing an emergency abdominal procedure.
At any time you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or severe abdominal pain, come to us. It is not wise to wait it out.
- Allergic Reactions
Allergy sufferers are exposed to a lot of triggers during the holidays – from mold, Christmas trees, food, or scented candles.
Some allergic reactions can be easily resolved with an over-the-counter medication such as antihistamine. But for some unfortunate ones, their immune system response can be serious and can cause an attack or an anaphylactic shock, which is life-threatening. These cases require immediate medical attention.
Physicians Premier, your ER in Corpus Christi, is open 24/7/365, even during holidays. Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped to treat all medical emergencies. Get quality treatment fast, and you may be back in time to enjoy the festivities!
