The 12 Accidents of Christmas
Christmas Accidents
During Christmas time there are more accidents than usual for both humans and pets, more than 80,000 people go to A & E each year for Christmas related accidents. With decorations, fires, new toys, visitors and cooking being potential hazards.
1. Indigestion and Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is always a worry at Christmas, there are one million cases of food poisoning every year. If you are cooking a turkey make sure you read the instructions carefully and never risk taking short cuts as it takes hours to cook the bird properly, undercooked turkey can cause salmonella poising , which can be life threatening.
2. Kitchen
Hot food, boiling water and sharp knives can make the kitchen particularly hazardous, 49% of respondents have suffered an accident whilst preparing Christmas food. 1 in 10 having spilled hot fat on themselves and 1 in 5 cutting themselves whilst preparing vegetables..
Try to keep everyone other than the cook (especially pets and children) out the kitchen, 1 in 10 children’s accidents happen in the kitchen. Refrain from drinking alcohol until the cooking is finished and wipe up any spills, so people do not slip
3. Allergies
Be cautious if you have a food allergy and take extra care. Be careful of chocolate treats because some of them may contain nuts, even though the packet may say the product does not contain nuts, there may be a risk of cross contamination.
How Can We Help?
To help prevent these accidents why not book onto our Food Safety Training?
- Award in Food Safety in Retail – Level 2
- Award in Food Safety Manufacturing – Level 2
- Award in Food Safety in Catering – Level 2
- Award in Supervising Food safety in Catering- Level 3
- Award in Food Safety Supervision for Retail – Level 3
- Award in Food Safety Supervision for Manufacturing – Level 3
- Award in HACCP for Food Manufacturing – Level 3
4. Plants
While holly and mistletoe might seem festive and romantic they are highly poisonous, their berries contain toxic proteins that slow the heart rate and can cause hallucinations. The orange berries of the Christmas cherry can cause stomach pains
5. Toys
Be aware when buying toys from the market stalls or pop up shops, toys may be imported and may not meet strict safety guide lines. Always buy age appropriate toys for your little ones and make sure there are no small parts that could be a choking hazard. When opening presents ensure you have scissors, many injuries occur on Christmas day with people battling to open difficult packaging as quickly as possible.
6. Dangers of Alcohol
Alcohol can reduce risk of awareness and inhibitions. Accidents are more likely to happen in the kitchen at home if you have overdone the alcohol (the cook should refrain from drinking alcohol until the food is on the table), make sure you space drinks out with non-alcoholic ones.
If someone has had too much to drink check that they are breathing and then roll the into the recovery position to keep their airway clear, someone should stay with them at all times (this is important in case they vomit).
7.Choking
Glass and fragile decorations should be out of reach from toddlers and pets. Novelty decorations such as: stuffed Santa’s, reindeer and snowmen that may look like toys do not have to comply with safety standards and may be dangerous. Keep them out of reach of children and make sure you know what to do if your child does start choking. Small parts from toys, novelties from crackers can easily become a choking hazard.
How Can We Help?
To help prevent these accidents and know how to save a life why not book onto our First Aid training?
- First Aid at Work – Level 3
- First Aid at Work (Annual Refresher) – Level 3
- Emergency Firs Aid at Work – Level 3
8. Poisoning and Swallowing of Corrosive Batteries
Button batteries are found in many children’s toys and books, while batteries in children’s products are covered by safety regulations and are required to have a screwed down cover, many items such as Santa hats and musical cards are not. Button batteries release corrosive acid that burns the inside of intestines, causing major internal bleeding. Ensure all batteries are safely secured inside toys, remote controls and gadgets.
How Can We Help ?
To prevent accidents such as choking why not book onto our Paediatric First Aid training?
- Paediatric First Aid – Level 3
- Paediatric First Ad ( Annual Refresher) – Level 3
- Emergency Paediatric First Aid – Level 3
9. Decorations
More than 1000 people each year are hurt while decorating their Christmas tree, usually whilst fixing decorations to the highest branches, 2.6 million people have fallen whilst using unstable chairs or stools whilst putting up decorations. Use a ladder
1 in 50 people have fallen from the loft when getting decorations down. Don’t do this job alone, have someone to hand the decorations down to you. Glass decorations should be placed out of reach from toddlers and pets
How Can We Help?
To prevent falls from ladders why take a look at our Working at Height training?
- Working at Height – Level 2
10. Fairy Lights
Test your lights and wiring before you put them up, if necessary buy new ones that meet higher safety standards (look for BS Kitemark) and don’t overload sockets, this can result in electrical fires. 350 people a year are injured by Christmas tree lights, including falls, while they are being put up. As well as, children swallowing the bulbs and electric shocks and burns.
One in 40 people have suffered an electrical shock due to badly wired Christmas lights. Get your chimney swept if you are planning to have a festive open fire and avoid cables being tripping hazards. Between 1997 – 2010, 26 people died as a result of watering their Christmas tree with the lights on.
How Can We Help?
With our PAT testing services you can ensure that there are no electrical faults with your electrical appliances.
11. Festive Flames and Fires
Over the Christmas period there is a huge increase in house fires, people are 50% more likely to die in house fires than at any other time of the year. Keep any Christmas cards, paper decorations and the Christmas tree away from heat sources such as candles, fires or heaters as they can catch alight and burn easily. Check that your smoke alarms are working, including your carbon monoxide detector.
Did you know 600,00 people have burnt themselves whilst roasting chestnuts on an open fire.
How Can We Help?
To help prevent fire or to know what to do when there is a fire why not take a look at our Fire Safety Awareness training?
- Fire Safety Awareness – Level 1
- Fire Safety – Level 2
12. Stairs and Snow
Make sure you are careful when going on walks over Christmas as the grounds are very slippy and no one wants to spend Christmas in hospital. Alcohol, tiredness and exciting children make the stairs an accident hotspot during Christmas. Make sure the stairs are free from clutter and remove any obstacles that could cause slip or falls down the stairs.
How Can We Help?
By putting a risk assessment or workplace risk assessment in place this could help prevent falls/ slips.
Christmas is an exciting time of the year, make sure you stay safe!