More injuries over holidays

By Astha Gupta First published: December 18th, 2011

The risk of drowning and injury skyrockets over Christmas. Astha Gupta explains how to stay safe.

It is the best time of the year – family gatherings, the exchange of presents, delicious treats. Unfortunately, for emergency room doctors it's also one of the busiest.


According to the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit at Monash University, there were at least 221 presentations to emergency departments in Victoria for Christmas-related injuries over the five-year period from 2006 to 2010, including cases that were subsequently admitted to hospital. The highest number of cases occurred in children up to four years and adults aged 35 to 39.


A spokesperson for St George Hospital in NSW adds, "Our emergency department usually experiences an increase in presentations of up to 40 per cent during the Christmas and New Year period."


To compound the problem, most people don't know first aid. According to research by St John (NSW), while the majority of the population said that knowing first aid was important, only eight per cent had a current first-aid certificate.


St John recommends people buy and regularly restock a first-aid kit, and store it in a safe, cool place out of reach of children.


Here are ways to stay safe.

 

How to avoid pool injuries

More than 40 per cent of drowning cases occur during the summer months. If you're hosting a pool party at your home and have a large number of children present, make sure you have a designated parent to watch over the kids.


"Don't have children supervising other children," Penelope Little, a paramedic from the Ambulance Service of NSW, says. "Make sure you have a pool fence and an up-to-date CPR chart near the pool. Keep the door to the pool locked and keep a special eye on children who are non-swimmers."


But it's not only the young children at risk. Peter Achatz, a first-aid training officer with St John, warns of the dangers of mixing alcohol and water activities. "People get a false sense of security after drinking and take unusual risks such as diving in shallow water, which can result in head, neck and spinal injuries," Achatz says.

 

How to avoid sprains and breaks

Christmas Day often starts quietly for ambulance staff, Little says, but as the afternoon wears on, the service gets plenty of calls related to injuries to children. Accidents due to skateboards, scooters, rollerblades and push bikes are common. "Buying a helmet and knee pads with the present is a must, not an option," Little adds.

 

How to avoid holiday falls

The ambulance service gets many calls from rural properties over the Christmas season, reporting horse-riding falls or quad-biking accidents.


"Normally it's for a young city-based child who's gone to visit relatives or is on holidays and isn't familiar with horses or quad bikes and has a nasty fall. While kids might be enthusiastic to try activities on a farm, supervise them closely," Little says. "Writing down the address and details of your holiday accommodation and keeping it with the telephone can hurry things up in an emergency," she adds.

 

How to avoid burns

People should be on their guards around flames, be it an open fire, in the kitchen or at barbecues. "Many times bonfires go wrong," Little says, "mostly because correct procedures aren't followed or alcohol was involved."


Burns can be treated with cool running water for 20 minutes. "Taking a person to the shower or a flowing hose is great for burns," Achatz says.

 

How to avoid cuts

Be careful while handling scissors and knives when opening presents or carving the turkey. Use proper tools for assembling toys rather than a knife.


"Don't rush when opening the presents," Little says. "Have a screwdriver ready for toys that are screwed into packaging, and clear up the packaging and wrapping paper as you go along."


by bodyandsoul.com.au.