The holidays are upon us. That means different things for different people. It could mean great food, vacations with family, or just some time off to rest. There’s one thing it means for everyone, though: an increased risk of accidents and injuries.
The end of the year is full of unique opportunities for injuries related to festive occasions. The last thing you want to do is start next year injured and with a pile of medical bills. Here are the five most common holiday injuries and how you can avoid them.
1. Drunk Driving Accidents
The most common accident over the holidays is drunk driving crashes by a large margin. There are a couple reasons for this.
First and foremost, people are more likely to travel to visit friends and family during this time of year and overindulge. There are simply more people getting drunk or otherwise intoxicated in other people’s homes where they can’t take a taxi or rideshare home, so they make the poor decision to drive themselves. That means more opportunities for accidents.
Compounding that is the fact that weather around the country turns dark, wet, and icy in the winter. Driving in the dark is more likely to lead to accidents even in the best of conditions. Combined with slick roads and inebriated drivers, this makes drunk driving accidents significantly more common.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to entirely protect yourself from other drunk drivers. The best solution is to always drive sober, make sure you’re awake and alert when driving after dark, and be especially cautious on weekends and near holidays.
2. Slip and Fall Injuries
Another major risk of the holidays is also linked to the weather. Whether you live in Illinois and already face snow, or you’re in California and experiencing rain, winter is wet. That’s bad news for safety.
Wet floors and icy sidewalks are a perennial problem for businesses. These issues pose slip and fall risks for their patrons if they aren’t carefully monitored. While upstanding companies will take steps to keep their floors and sidewalks clean and not slippery, others won’t. That puts visitors like you at risk of a serious accident.
Slip and fall accidents can be incredibly dangerous, too. These accidents can lead to broken bones, head injuries, and even death. Annually, falls are the most common reason for emergency room visits, accounting for more than eight million ER trips and 21.3% of trips total.
Slip and fall accidents can sometimes be avoided if you’re careful. During the winter, make sure to wear shoes with excellent grip and watch your step. Still, you can’t control the condition and safety of the places you visit; that’s the responsibility of the premises itself.
3. Decoration Injuries
This is the time of year to deck the halls. Just make sure you do it carefully and watch out for other people’s mistakes.
According to the CDC, there are about 5800 accidents annually from people falling while trying to decorate for the holidays. This includes falling off ladders, chairs, step stools, and roofs. It also covers falls from slipping or tripping on holiday items like lights, tree skirts, or power cords. Decorating your house can be a great way to celebrate, but make sure you do it carefully and have someone nearby to help keep you stable.
You should also be careful around other people’s decorations. Accidents like Christmas trees and heavy decorations falling on people are unfortunately common, too. Someone else’s laziness and negligence in their decorating process should ruin your holidays. Stay away from loose strings of lights, unstable-looking decorations, and avoid standing directly under suspended items like garlands or wreaths.
4. Fires
The holidays are full of fun celebrations that bring light into dark times. Lighting candles, building bonfires, and getting the fireplace going are common traditions that can have unfortunate consequences. These practices need to be done safely, or they can put you at risk of holiday fires.
Other traditions also make fires more likely. Cooking large amounts of food leads to a higher risk of kitchen and grease fires. Roasting turkeys for hours at a time can, too. Similarly, people who rent deep fryers for the holidays can make mistakes and burn down their homes. Even bringing in wreaths and Christmas trees can risk flames if they aren’t treated properly and there’s an electrical short in your lights.
Fires aren’t a guarantee, though. You can take precautions to keep your house safe by following proper fire safety guidelines. Never go to sleep with your oven or stove on, candles lit, or your fireplace going. If you rent a deep fryer, make sure you get it from a reputable location and follow all their instructions for operation.
5. Shopping Injuries
Even going shopping for the season can put you in danger. Days like Black Friday are infamous for creating dangerous conditions in stores when people stampede to get good deals. Holiday sales and shopping habits can cause everything from crushing injuries as people push past each other to fistfights for the last of an item.
On a less threatening note, shopping can also lead to common injuries like strains and sprains. Be cautious when lifting large items or carrying many bags. Moving heavy gifts can hurt your back and knees if you’re not careful. Ask employees to help you move things if you’re not sure you can do it yourself.
The best way to avoid shopping injuries is to do your holiday buying at home. If you need to go somewhere in person, pay attention to your surroundings. Avoid huge crowds and shop when stores are relatively empty.
Stay Safe This Holiday Season
The holidays should be a time of light and laughter. Getting injured during your normal celebratory activities can ruin the entire season. You can take steps to stay healthy, like avoiding crowded places, never driving drunk, and following appropriate safety precautions when decorating and cooking.
Still, you can’t avoid every accident. If someone else caused your injury through their own negligence, you need help. A qualified personal injury lawyer can help you hold these negligent people accountable for ruining your holiday. Get in touch today to schedule your consultation and learn how a good lawyer can help you recover some holiday spirit along with damages for your injuries.
