Originally published by mcminnlaw.
Keep Holidays Accident and Injury Free
By now, most of us have put up all our holiday decorations and are enjoying the majestic quality of lit up houses and trees in windows. Decorations add to our overall Christmas spirit and spiked eggnog compensates when we start losing our holiday cheer. And we all know traveling with our families for hours on end in holiday traffic while listening to the same Christmas songs again, and again, can sometimes lead to our insanity.
Holiday vacation is no break from possible injuries. The joy that comes with the holidays can quickly turn to tragedy and we need to be aware of the most common forms of injury during the holidays in order to avoid a tragic situation. As part of our gift to you this year, we wanted to ensure that you have a safe holiday season.
Holiday Accidents in the U.S.
Since 2009, there has been a steady increase in holiday injuries. Going from 12,000 holiday related injuries in 2009 to 15,000 reported to ERs last year. That’s 250 injuries a days between November 1st and the end of December! But what types of injuries are these and how do they come about?
Car Accidents More Common During Holidays, Data Says
Ever thought twice about how your co-workers got home after the end-of-year work party? Visiting with family and friends and time off from work can mean relaxation and adult beverages. Data shows that about 40% of all fatalities during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday are caused at least in part by intoxicated driving. On average throughout the year, 31% of crashes are caused by impaired driving. These numbers are based on a four year average between 2001 – 2005.
The most dangerous day for drinking and driving? In the U.S. an average of 54 fatalities occur due to alcohol related fatal accidents each year. On Christmas, an average of 45 alcohol related fatal accidents occur each year. Compared to the rest of December, in which an average of 33 similar accidents occur, it’s clear that the holidays bring about some of the riskiest driving across the country.
DUI: Decorating While Intoxicated
A term that is actually used by doctors around this time of year due to the large number of injuries they see from people getting drunk and decorating their house. The two almost seem like they would go together; however, standing on a ladder while you are intoxicated is obviously dangerous. If you decide to drink at home and decorate or take down decorations, be sure and save the lights on the roof or the start at the top of the Christmas tree until you’re sober again.
Most causes of injury are preventable by simply using common sense. Don’t get on the ladder when you’ve been drinking.
Another large part of traffic accidents or injuries while intoxicated result from all the end-of-the-year work parties, family drinking, and students going to back home to party with their friends. The holidays are time away from our orderly lives to relax and enjoy. However, they are not a vacation from possible injuries. Most causes of injury are preventable by simply using common sense. Don’t get on the ladder when you’ve been drinking.
Back Strains: Stretch!
Another common injury around the holidays is a back strain. Picking up packages, cleaning up wrapping paper, stretching to put the star on top of the Christmas tree; the possibilities are endless. A simple tip is to stretch right after you wake up. Doing a few stretches will get you limber in the morning.
Electric Shocks and Christmas Tree Fires
A woman in the Boston area, told ABC News about a time she was setting up Christmas lights around a stair railing and one of the lights were broken causing the wires to be exposed and touching the rail. When she put her hand on the railing it shocked her and caused her to fall down the stairs. Luckily, her injuries were minor, but this is still another common cause of holiday injury to look out for. Check those lights before you take them down or put them up.
Between 2009 and 2011, Two-hundred fires have resulted from Christmas tree’s igniting. Time Magazine reports that 70% of Americans buy the real deal Christmas trees. These are usually more susceptible to fire then the synthetic materials used on fake plants (but who wants to sacrifice that lovely smell of evergreen?). Check your lights on your Christmas trees as well. Make sure that none are broken and check throughout the weekend.
A Summation of Christmas Injuries
The variety of mechanisms of injuries break down into pretty defined categories:
- 33%—caused by falls
- 11%—cuts
- 10%—back strains
- 46%—various, unidentified causes
Some injuries might just be a crazy holiday fluke and some result from behavior that can obviously lead to injury (like climbing a ladder while drunk). So be careful and be smart!
From The McMinn Law Firm To You, Happy Holidays
We are all looking forward to a week of relaxation and time spent with the truly important people in our lives: our family, children, our parents, and friends. We hope you take the time to relax and enjoy your holidays safely.
The post Holiday Injuries: Don’t Let Your “Ho Ho Ho!” Turn Into An “Oh No Oh No!” appeared first on McMinn Law Firm Austin.
Curated by Texas Bar Today. Follow us on Twitter @texasbartoday.
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