Beware of these 12 Christmas injury risks

You better be careful. You better not cry. You better not get heartburn. I’m telling you why. The causes of accidents can come in the city. May Christmas 2024 bring you joy, rest and gifts. But like any other December 25, it can bring Christmas injury risks that aren’t, say, present during the rest of the year.

Here are 12 of them, one for each day of Christmas:

1. Christmas decorations

Yes, that elaborate display of Snoopy and Rudolph fighting the Peloponnesian War on your roof might be cool. But what happens if it falls on someone. And it might be great that you somehow managed to get 2,173,341 ornaments on your Christmas tree. But what if someone swallows some of them or hurts their foot by stepping on them.

This is why you should make sure all decorations are secure before leaving them. Avoid decorations that have very sharp edges or that can catch fire. Keep people who might swallow things without thinking – like small children or your fraternity mates – away from small ornaments.

Placing decorations can also be dangerous. Don’t try to reach places where you might be off balance. Use suitable equipment such as sturdy benches or ladders. Get someone strong enough to support you and, no, it’s not your one-year-old or that grandpa who needs a walker to stand.

2. Candles, fireplaces, stoves, ovens and other possible sources of fire

Chestnuts may not be the only things roasted over an open fire. Christmas combines many potential sources of fire with many flammable items such as Christmas trees, gift wrapping, stockings, alcohol and you. Keep these two sets of things as separate as possible and make sure that every chimney, candle and electrical item you use is working properly, has been thoroughly inspected and is free of defects such as broken wires. Double check that things are turned off when not in use.

3. Packaging and wrapping gifts

It’s a wrap. Gift wrapping can also be dangerous. Not only can it catch fire, but it can also be a suffocation, suffocation and suffocation hazard. After unwrapping your gifts, pack or dispose of any potentially hazardous materials as soon as possible.

4. Toys

Just because something is called a toy and marketed for use by children does not mean it has been adequately tested and is completely safe for children or adults. Anything that can be swallowed can be a choking hazard. Anything that has sharp edges can cut body tissue. Anything that is heavy can fall on your fingers, feet, hands, arms, neck or head. Before anyone uses any toy, make sure they know the potential dangers.

5. Batteries

Many things you can pick up and use during the Christmas holidays can run on batteries, including items, children’s toys and toys for adults. Batteries usually contain dangerous, corrosive, poisonous chemicals inside them. So quickly dispose of any battery that appears to be leaking. Keep small batteries such as lithium batteries that can be easily swallowed away from small children and food.

6. Alcohol

Surprise, surprise, people drink alcohol during the holidays. And drinking any type of alcohol in any type of inappropriate manner can carry more than one set of risks. Risks can range from mood swings to alcohol poisoning to drunk driving accidents. Keep alcohol away from anyone who shouldn’t be drinking things like your young children. Monitor everyone’s alcohol consumption. Someone protesting and saying, “Don’t worry, I can handle my alcohol,” is reason enough to worry that things might get out of hand.

7. Holiday foods

Salmonella. There you go again. My, my, how can people resist you? Over the years, I have covered for Forbes many different food explosions from Salmonella and other microbes. And oh, Mamma Mia, can food poisoning be a hazard for holiday meals, especially with things like turkey that people aren’t used to cooking the rest of the year. Food allergies can also be a problem.

But remember that food can also carry injury risks. The food may contain nuts, pieces of dried fruit, bones and other small or sharp objects that can be a choking hazard or damage the gastrointestinal tissues. However, before you think it’s fruitcake-free to prevent the risks of food spoilage with any substantial food and serve everyone nothing but mortar, keep in mind that a little care can go a long way. Make sure cooking operations are organized and don’t resemble a rugby scrum in the kitchen. If you’re going to get help in the kitchen, make sure everyone is well-informed and guided so they don’t end up accidentally putting something dangerous into the food. Inspect food before serving and eating it.

And when you eat something, be mindful of what you’re eating. Don’t be confused. Chew your food carefully instead of thinking, “Damn, why did Bill send me this fruitcake,” with every ounce of your attention and plotting a response.

8. Kitchen items

Speaking of keeping things organized in the kitchen, the kitchen can be like a ninja warrior obstacle course, full of things that can hurt people in various ways. Now, people can know not to do things like stick their head in a blender. You can tell their heads are too big for that. But you’d be surprised what uncooked things people can do with various kitchen items, such as using knives or spatulas to drop packets of butter so they stick to the ceiling. As a result, seemingly innocent items can quickly turn into dangerous weapons. Heck, even a baguette can do serious damage when you swing it the way Shohei Ohtani would a bat.

9. Humans and other animals

News flash. People can do stupid things. So do other animals like dogs and cats. The jury is still out on who might be dumber. But injury can result in either case. As I wrote about Forbes before, the winter holidays can be a particularly stressful and challenging time for many people. All of this can bring out even more reckless behavior than seen the rest of the year, which can put everyone else at greater risk. Therefore, be aware of any warning signs such as increased agitation or discussions that are likely to end in arguments and defuse them as soon as possible.

10. Travel

Many people are traveling for vacation. The combination of navigating in unfamiliar places and things like stress and alcohol in different people’s bodies can increase the risk of accidents. Therefore, be aware of your surroundings. Don’t drink and drive. Be careful around hazards such as stairs and train tracks. Put down your freaking smartphone. You don’t need to know what’s going on with the Kardashians at all times.

11. Snow and cold weather

Beware of ice, snow or slush covered surfaces and clear them as soon as possible. Otherwise, the chances of avoiding injury may slip. Also, cold, dry weather can make your skin drier and more susceptible to damage. Therefore, keep your skin well hydrated.

12. Sex

Christmas might make you want to put a quail in a pear or whatever euphemism you use for the word sex. But be careful not to be a little overzealous when sledding for two. It can lead to injury and not the kind of rest you want. Speaking of rest, check out what I wrote about penile fractures during Ring-a-ling-a ding-dong-ding season. A German study published in British Journal of Urology International (BJUI) found that the rate of penile fractures was 43% higher around Christmas Day than any other day of the year. A penile fracture is actually a tear of tissue in the penis and not a true fracture since there are no bones in your penis, regardless of what you might call an erection. It’s also not the only injury that can result when sex is too vigorous or slightly off target. So before you swing around the Christmas tree in any way, remember what the Pointer Sisters sang about a slow hand and a light touch.

If you want to make this the most wonderful time of the year, do what you can to avoid Christmas injuries. Make a list. Check it twice. You have to find out. What is around you will be bad or pleasant. Don’t let the causes of accidents come to town.