Fires, falls, flying squirrels — holiday injuries are more common than you might think. But you can avoid being the Clark Griswold of your family this season with a little preparation.
Here are five common injuries to avoid this holiday season, how they’ve hit home for us here at LALtoday, and how to treat them at Lakeland Regional Health Urgent Care if you do have a festive freak accident.
🪜 Falls and accidents during decorating
Approximately 160 decorating-related injuries occur each day during the holiday season in the US — and nearly half of the incidents involve falls from ladders.
Ladder safety is key.
Christmas Vacation .gif via Giphy
It’s personal:
- “An iron mantle stocking holder fell on my mom’s head one year and she got a concussion 😵💫" -Garcelle, 6AM City team member
- “When hanging Christmas lights... Let’s just say the folding ladder was not as sturdy as originally anticipated…” -Liam, 6AM City team member
Avoid it: Make sure your ladder is sturdy. Remember the 4-to-1 rule: For every four feet of height, move the base of the ladder one foot away from the wall.
Treat it:
- Lakeland Regional Health Urgent Care‘s two convenient locations at Lake Miriam and Pablo Campus are open 7 days a week (including after-school and after-work hours) to treat minor trauma from falls and other injuries. Bonus: On-site x-ray imaging.
- “Plus, you don’t need an appointment or even an LRH primary care provider to see us,” says James Khai Lee, MD. The team welcomes all patients ages 2+ to receive care, regardless of if they are an established LRH patient or not.
- “During the busy holiday season, drop by one of our convenient locations so we can help. We are open late hours and weekends to fit your schedule as needed.”
🔥 Fires from lights, candles, cooking, and electrical issues
Nearly 47,000 fires occur during the winter holidays, causing 2,200+ injuries and costing $554 million in property damage.
It’s personal: “I always get irritated skin from sitting too close to the fire 😅” -Stephanie, 6AM City team member
Avoid it: Never leave lit candles unattended. Avoid overloading outlets by never plugging in more than three strings of lights into each other — instead, opt for a power strip.
Slow down there, Sparky.
Christmas Vacation .gif via Giphy
Treat it: The efficient healthcare experts at Lakeland Regional Health Urgent Care treats minor burns and can easily connect you to the larger hospital system for more comprehensive treatment, dermatology specialists, and more.
📦 Strained backs and muscles
Hauling the tree from the farm to the fireplace? Count our biceps out. There’s so much heavy lifting during the holidays, from packages to decorations to groceries.
Be careful when lifting heavy packages and presents.
Christmas Vaction .gif via Giphy
It’s personal: “We keep our decorations in the attic, and one year, my dad went up and missed a step… and fell on his back — on top of my mom. 😳” -Emily, 6AM City team member
Avoid it: Always lift with your legs, and never lift a heavy object above shoulder level.
Treat it:
- Lakeland Regional Health Urgent Care can prescribe medications to help ease neck, back, and muscle pain.
- “Sometimes you need care fast, but it’s not an emergency. So where do you go? Our Urgent Care is the best answer because we offer a wide array of services like [treatment for] minor burns, the flu, sprains, and more,” says. Dr. Lee.
🔪 Cuts while cooking
Knife cuts and lacerations are the most common kitchen injuries — especially around the holidays.
It’s personal: “I dropped a knife on my foot while chopping apples for apple pie the first time I met my husband’s family at Thanksgiving 🙃” -Rilee, LALtoday City Editor
Avoid it: Always cut away from yourself when opening packages. Brush up on your knife skills to avoid sliced fingers when cooking.
Treat it: Minor cuts and lacerations can be easily treated and stitched up at Lakeland Regional Health Urgent Care. When in doubt, get it checked out.
🤢 Food poisoning, allergies, or sensitivity
~1 in 6 Americans gets sick from food poisoning each year, and the chances for foodborne illness increase during the holidays with more food sitting out for parties, introductions to new or unfamiliar foods, and increased home cooking. Kids are especially vulnerable.
Unfamiliar foods can become foes at holiday parties.
Christmas Vacation .gif via Giphy
It’s personal: “My family spent a Christmas in Lake Tahoe when I was a kid, and thanks to a few bad pieces of bacon, I puked in the tram on the way up to the Olympic ice skating rink and had to lay on a bench on the sidelines while everyone else skated around.” -Shea, 6AM City team member
Avoid it: Keep food out of the “danger zone,” which lies between 40°F and 140°F. And wash your hands… a bunch.
Treat it: If you’re feeling sick or having a minor sensitivity, head to Lakeland Regional Health Urgent Care. As always, if your injury, illness, or reaction is severe, call 911.
