Tips for an Injury Free Holiday Season

Each holiday season, thousands of Americans push the decorating envelope and wind up with a broken leg, or worse. Falls, lacerations, and back strains are among the most common decorating injuries. In 2012, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated more than 15,000 Americans visited the emergency room due to injuries they sustained decorating during the holiday season.

So what can you do to ensure you have a safe holiday season? According to Dr. Jack Cornwell from CareWell Urgent Care, the vast majority of holiday injuries are preventable by following a few simple tips.

Lift with your legs. It is unrealistic to think you can avoid lifting heavy items during the holidays, but it is realistic to lift these heavy items using the proper lifting technique. Be sure to bend your knees and keep your back straight. Keep your weight even on both feet to ensure you stay balanced. And be sure you have a clear path before you try to carry something heavy from one place to another.

Cook right to eat right. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48 million Americans get sick, 28,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from food related illnesses each year. It is important to follow proper guidelines when cooking and serving your holiday meals. It can be easy to get distracted, especially when cooking for a large number of people. Make sure your meat thermometers are working and remember to use them. The same thing goes for your leftovers. Make sure your leftovers are thoroughly heated and are not being eaten more than a week after they were first served.

Keep it neat and tidy. Each year, hundreds of people trip over holiday items that are left out, even long after the tree is taken down. You can avoid this by making sure to put away all unnecessary decorations. This also minimizes the risk of young children choking on something small that has been left out.

Although it might seem like common sense, do not leave candles unattended or near curtains, Christmas trees or anything flammable. According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 2007 and 2011, candle related fires caused an estimated 70 deaths, 680 injuries and more than 300 million dollars in damage nationwide. What’s more, the majority of fires where the Christmas tree was the first thing ignited happened after Christmas.

Don’t decorate, or remove decorations alone. Not only is decorating with a friend more fun, but it is also safer. Having someone help you lift heavy objects, steady the ladder you’re climbing, and even just be an extra set of eyes is very helpful. And if something does go wrong and you do happen to hurt yourself, there will be someone there to help you.

If disaster still prevails, know where to go for care. A local urgent care center, such as CareWell, is a sure bet to treat a non-life threatening injury. If your injury is life threatening call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.