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6 Essential Tips to Keep Holiday Safe and Fun

first aid holidays

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Although the holiday season is considered the magical time of the year for both young people and adults, it is also the season where emergency room visits are at their highest.

According to an analysis by the Medical Journal of Australia, the Christmas holiday period saw a 9% average increase in emergency room visits every year. 

It is indeed is the season where all of our usual routines go out the window. Due to lifestyle changes and increased unintentional injuries and accidents, hospital and local care centres become crowded during the holiday.

So before we wrap all the presents, pack for our holidays, and prepare for our festive cooking, here are 6 tips for your to-do list to ensure you and your family have a safe and happy holiday period.

Be careful of the decorations.

Many of us are guilty of being so over the top with decorations that we sometimes forget some of their materials can be dangerous for individuals and kids.

If you have little ones at home, do not let them play with decorations, especially glass or breakable ones. This may cause deep cuts or wounds when unsupervised. Also, look out for the small hooks on certain decorations as they can pose choking hazards. 

Designate a ‘responsible’ adult

As mentioned, if you have little kids having a designated ‘responsible’ adult to look after them is the most fool-proof way to prevent accidents. Having someone constantly supervising and keeping all things in place makes an enormous impact on preventing unwanted things from happening. 

If possible, rotate the responsibility to not just one person so they will not miss the fun!

Stay away from kitchen madness.

The kitchen seems to be an emergency zone area during this time of the year as this is where most accidents happen. 1 out of 10 people are experience cooking burns and blisters with hot liquids, and 1 in 5 people tend to get serious cuts whilst cutting the meat and vegetables. 

Do not let the holiday fun and excitement turn into a painful trip to the hospital. 

Balance your Alcohol Consumption

The holiday period is associated with throwing parties, and those parties typically involve alcohol consumption. Celebration involving alcohol is not necessarily the problem, but the binge-drinking is often the root cause of accidents.

Australian emergency personnel are in even higher demand during holidays. Different health departments and hospitals all over the country have said that the holiday month (December) is typically a really busy time in the ER, and alcohol largely contributes to this. 

Alcohol statistics gathered by Turning Point and VicHealth have shown that rates of alcohol-related harm reach a high in the summer months, beginning from the last working day before Christmas.

About 50% of the increase in ambulance call-outs are due to alcohol intoxication. 

If you are driving home after a party, do not drink if possible, not even a single drop. If you aren’t driving and want to drink alcohol, please do so but in moderation. Remember, anything that is too much can hurt.

Take Care of your Mental Health

Christmas and the long holiday break are no doubt fun for families, but not all feel the same way about the celebration. For some, this season can be very isolating and lonely.

We encourage people to take proper care of themselves and look out for others who might need it. Sometimes, a simple greeting or an act of invitation can make a difference.

Prepare a First Aid Kit

Having a well-stocked first aid kit will not only give you peace of mind but also help make sure that your family is well and can safely go back to their routines once the holidays are over. 

Include the following staples in any first aid kit:

  • Plasters and Bandages
  • Dressings
  • Antiseptic lotion
  • Prescribed Medications (pain relief, antibiotics, antihistamines)
  • Latex Gloves
  • Tweezers and Scissors

A properly-stocked first aid kit might not give you all the help a doctor can provide, but it can be an effective means of treating difficult situations you may experience during the holidays. Better preparation means less stress and more time to enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.

First Aid Course Melbourne wishes everyone a fun and exciting holiday with their family and friends. Celebrating the successes of the old year and welcoming in the new one.

We can set a great example for those around us by following these safety tips and having a much more memorable and safe celebration.

Happy Holidays!

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