The holiday season is all about spending quality time with your family and friends. You don’t want a trip to the emergency room to interrupt the fun. Unfortunately, the festive time of year does see an increase in visits to the ER, particularly around Christmas and New Year’s. Find out how to avoid three common incidents below.

3 Preventable Holiday-Related Injuries

1. Cooking Catastrophes

Cooking holds risks. People may cut themselves when carving the turkey or strain their backs lifting the giant bird. Make sure your carving knife is sharpened as a dull knife is more likely to slip. If the turkey is large, have someone help carry it out.

There is also the danger of kitchen fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the number one day for home cooking fires in the United States. Don't leave cooking unattended and equip your kitchen with a fire extinguisher.

2. Decorating Disasters

Whether you’re positioning the angel on the top of the tree or hanging twinkly lights from the roof, you may have to get out the ladder when decorating. Prevent tumbles by ensuring it’s sturdy and set up properly and having someone hold it steady at the bottom. 

Holiday decorations can also cause fires, as both Christmas trees and candles can lead to unexpected blazes. If you must use real candles, never leave them unsupervised and keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

3. Drunk Driving Accidents

There are many occasions to toast your loved ones over the holidays. If you are planning on driving, however, avoid the booze. The Insurance Information Institute reports that accidents related to alcohol consumption increase over the holidays. 

Additionally, this time of year sees more people on the roads, often driving in wintry conditions. Avoid driving on snowy and icy roads, as this increases the risk of slipping and accidents that can land you in the emergency room.

 

If you need urgent care for a non-life-threatening situation this holiday season, head to Taylor Regional Hospital's walk-in clinic in Campbellsville, KY. Their providers treat patients of all ages, covering numerous conditions and illnesses including:

-Abdominal Pain/Acid Reflux

-Acne/Impetigo

-Allergies (Seasonal & Reactions)

-Asthma/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

-Bronchitis

-Cough/Cold/Flu

-Ear Pain/Infections

-Eye Pain/Pink Eye

-Headaches

-Head Lice/Scabies/Bed Bugs

-Insect Bites/Stings

-Mononucleosis

-Nausea/Vomiting (Stomach Virus)

-Rashes (Eczema, Poison Ivy, Hives, Psoriasis, Ringworm, Shingles)

-Sore Throat/Strep Throat

-Upper Respiratory Infections

-Urinary Tract Infections

They accept most insurance plans as well as cash, credit, and debit for out-of-pocket costs. They are connected to Taylor Regional Hospital, which houses a Level III trauma center for emergency room services. Learn more about the hospital online. For questions, call (270) 849-2379.