Christmas is a time for tinsel, mince pies and The Muppets Christmas Carol, not a trip to A&E. But when routines are different, the house is full of fairy lights (some on their last legs) and the oven is in overdrive, you Let’s see how it goes.
However, there’s a lot you can do to keep the whole family safe on vacation.
“We want people to have fun at Christmas,” says the research manager at Per. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)James Brown. “If you’re going to A&E you’re not going to have fun. Christmas Eveor your grandparents have a slip. It’s about trying to create an environment where you can have fun while securing your home in practical ways.
If you are involved in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, but with a little awareness and preparation, you can have a very safe and very happy Christmas…
Slips and falls.
Santa Chimneys may fall, but for the rest of us, falls are not uncommon – they are the leading cause of accidental death in the UK. “Every year thousands of people die as a result of falls, and millions are admitted to hospital,” says Brown – in 2023, 450,000 people will end up in A&E due to falls.
“Christmas creates the conditions for certain types of fall,” he adds. “When people go upstairs to take down boxes, or their garage rafters, they often climb up a ladder, which many homeowners actually don’t do very often.”
Older people who are less steady on their feet are more likely to have serious falls – 3,500 over-65s die from them each year – while children can fall behind their parents or climb stairs. are Bright lights inside and outside the house can cause more than a few rattles, and a house full of extended family increases the risk of tripping. “They’re not necessarily familiar with your stairs, where things happen at night when they go down for a glass of water,” says Brown. “Maybe the kids left their toys on the stairs…”
The key is awareness: look where the kids are, put the stairs up properly and “if you’re in an unfamiliar place and it’s nighttime, maybe you’ve had a little to drink, put on a light if you’re walking downstairs.” “Hold on to stairs, handrails, and don’t leave children’s toys lying around,” says Brown.
burns
Scorching yourself with gravy and burning yourself pulling the turkey out of the oven is all too possible this time of year, as is singeing your brows if you’re carrying around glistening Christmas pudding.
But Adrian Simpson, head of policy at RoSPA, says hot water bottles are a major cause of burns at this time of year. According to the Children’s Burns Trust, the number of children suffering hot water bottle burns has increased by 55%. “people Hot water bottles are getting a lot of use because of the life crisis,” says Simpson.
“People traditionally keep hot water bottles in their families for many years. You will see a daisy wheel on it that tells you the year and month it was made. We advise people to They should check the age of the hot water bottle to make sure it is not expiring.”
A full-blown electrical fire is also a potential Christmas hazard, thanks to overloaded extension leads and faulty fairy lights, which can also cause electrocution.
Take care of your tree too. “I can imagine a scenario where a very curious cat takes a fancy to a glowing cat in a treetop, decides to climb it, accidentally pulls it off, and it dangerously injures someone. Lands near an open fire while they’re cooking the turkey.” says Brown.
“Think about where things are placed in the room. If you have a tree that’s real, water it. If you have a plastic tree, make sure it’s up to British Standards and warm. Be careful with it near open sources, as it is potentially flammable.”
Car accidents
Collisions caused by rain, snow, ice or fog have increased by 8 percent in the past two years. In 2023, there were 59 deaths due to slippery roads, and 21 road deaths due to rain, snow, ice or fog,” says Brown. Along with the weather this time of year, it gets dark much earlier. And driving at night is more tiring, making things more dangerous when you’re on your way home for Christmas.
Then there are the dangers of drunk driving. “Last year, about 9,000 drivers were caught drinking and driving, which was a huge amount,” says Simpson. “Don’t drink and drive – at all.”
Hidden dangers
Your toddler may disagree, but Christmas decorations are not toys, and thus, not regulated like toys. “There are a lot of safety rules and regulations around toys, the heavy metals they use, safety warnings, choking warnings, that don’t apply to Christmas decorations,” explains Simpson. “For those caring for children or frail adults, think, could these decorations go a little higher up the tree where they’re out of sight?”
Another item that is “extremely unsafe” for children – and can cause serious internal injury and even death if ingested – is button magnets. “Keep them out of the reach of children. Don’t leave them lying around. Once they’re used and spent, dispose of them very quickly,” warns Simpson.
When it comes to buying toys as gifts, “we advise parents and carers to look for UKCA or CE marking on toys,” says Simpson.
“It’s the manufacturer that declares that the goods comply with all relevant health and safety and environmental requirements. And make sure the product is bought from a legitimate, reputable retailer, not one that pops up overnight. products, because we just don’t know how many security checks that retailer has done.” He adds: “Don’t prioritize cost savings over safety.”