By Other Christmas-Related Injuries
Along with driving while impaired or in bad weather, there are many ways that people can injure themselves during the holiday season. Some of the most common causes of Christmas season injuries include:
- Falls, lacerations, or impacts from objects
- Injuries while decorating or wrapping gifts
- Christmas object inserted into the body (of course)
- Electrocution or burning
- Allergic reactions
Whether it’s an allergic reaction to Christmas cookies, or falling off a ladder while decorating, many people sustain injuries this time of year.
Around the Holidays, Emergency Rooms Become Chaotic
The winter holiday season tends to bring an increase in emergency room visits, making the ER environment particularly chaotic for emergency nurses. According to Dr. Vidor Friedman, an ER doctor at Florida Hospital Celebration Health in the Orlando area, “Every year we see a huge volume increase — up to 50 to 100 patients per day.”
During the holiday season, people drink more alcohol, eat less healthily, and are more susceptible to depression and other mood disorders. Colds and flus are also rampant this time of year. Many patients report with gastrointestinal issues caused by not regulating their salt intake. With holiday depression being as common as it is, there are also more cases of self-harm.
Another reason that the ER is so busy during the holidays is that, for the most part, primary care offices tend to close around Christmas and New Year’s. This means that even if the problem isn’t very serious, people’s best option for care may be the ER or Urgent Care.
Working During the Holidays
Illness and injury don’t take days off, so many nurses end up working during Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Eve some years. While eating reheated turkey in the breakroom for Christmas certainly isn’t glamorous, it’s a necessary part of the job.
Christmas and New Year’s can be surprisingly dangerous, so it’s important to stay safe. If you’re not working the holidays this year, be sure to drive carefully and pay attention to weather conditions. Also, needless to say, drink responsibly, and don’t drive while intoxicated.
