First aid for those festive accidents
C ATTERED presents, new toys, busy kitchens and hordes of people crowded into a small space mean that as well as being chaotic fun, Christmas can be full of accidents waiting to happen.
Every December, many A&E patients have to endure delays or are even diverted elsewhere due to increased demand – some caused by Christmas accidents that could have been treated at home.
But what can we sensibly manage at home? And when is an urgent visit to A&E called for?
Alan Weir, head of clinical operations at St John Ambulance, says : “At a time when there’s increasing pressure on our emergency services, knowing basic first aid is vital. It means minor injuries can be dealt with at home, reducing the need for health professionals to step in unnecessarily for minor ailments.
“Equipping yourself with these skills can help you identify when to seek medical attention.”
GP Dr Tom York, of the doctor-ondemand app GPDQ (gpdq.co.uk), adds : “Extra safety precautions and vigilance is the best way to avoid an accident spoiling the festive period, not to mention your wellbeing.”
Here are six common Christmas injuries and mishaps, with key tips from St John Ambulance and Dr York on how to treat them at home and when to call in urgent help... and a monitor.
Seek medical a advice, for example by calling NHS 111, if the burn is a bad one ( (and obviously, be extra cautious if infants and young c children get burned and seek advice). WITH toys scattered everywhere on Christmas Day, it’s easy to trip over and sprain your ankle.
Remember the ‘RICE’ rule. R : Rest the injured area. I: Apply an ice pack or frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel. C : Ensure there’s comfortable support and check circulation every 10 minutes. E: Elevate the injured limb and rest. find themselves within arm’s reach and pose a hazard for adventurous toddlers,” warns Dr York. “Batteries can be especially problematic as, aside from choking, they can also cause chemical burns in the throat when saliva creates an electrical current.”
Adults and children should try to cough out whatever they’re choking on. St John Ambulance says onlookers should encourage the casualty to keep coughing, and if that doesn’t dislodge the obstruction, give five sharp back blows between the shoulder blade, and check their mouth each time. Or, squeeze it out by giving five abdominal thrusts and checking their mouth each time.
But remember, call 999 for emergency help if the object doesn’t dislodge, as choking can quickly become a medical emergency. Repeat the back blows and squeezes until help arrives. urgently, advises Dr York.
If the child has any loss of consciousness, vomits more than once, is difficult to console or to wake up, or is behaving abnormally (e.g. not walking or talking as usual), it could indicate an injury to the brain and require prompt assessment by a doctor.