Avoid winter emergencies

Remember the scene in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” where Clark Griswold (actor Chevy Chase) turns on his faulty-wired outdoor Christmas lights and accidentally causes a citywide power outage? Yeah, that only happens in the movies.

But during another scene in the hit 1989 comedy, the actor actually broke a finger while demolishing a Santa sled on his fictional front lawn.

Unwanted injuries are often part and parcel of the holiday season, according to Kate Barrier, MD, vice president of Medical Affairs for Baptist Clay Medical Center and emergency medicine physician with Emergency Resources Group.

Helpful tips to stay healthy during the holidays

Ways to avoid unwanted injuries during the holidays include:

• Not mixing alcohol and prescription drugs and avoiding excess alcohol consumption.
• Being careful when handling kitchen cutlery.
• Maintaining a balanced diet and exercise routine.
• Using extra caution around heights and outsourcing work when able.

“Our team sees quite a lot of traumatic and non-traumatic emergencies this time of year,” said Dr. Barrier.

Accidents with electric bikes and electric scooters are on the rise in recent years as the popularity of these products grows.

Common holiday injuries

Other traumatic injuries frequently seen in the ER during the holidays include:

• Falls (ladders or slip and fall)
• Burns (in particular from turkey fryer oil)
• Lacerations (knives or mandoline slicers)
• Power tool-related injuries

“And, certainly, motor vehicle accidents reach a peak during the holidays because more people are on the road, and people are traveling to and from parties where alcohol is served,” Dr. Barrier said. “Alcohol-related illnesses are definitely something we see in the ER around the holidays. Mental health-related visits, including for depression, also increase during this time of the year.

“On the non-traumatic side, we certainly experience a spike in respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia and bronchitis, that can result in admissions to the hospital. Increased sugar and salt in holiday foods can also worsen hypertension and congestive heart failure emergencies.”

ERs often see an influx of patients the day after Christmas, sometimes because people delay medical treatment until after the holidays.

“We certainly encourage people to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holidays,” said Dr. Barrier, “But, we also want them to maintain their medical routines, including taking all their medicines and not ignoring any symptoms of illness.”