Have a question? Call us on 0800 1979 345
This article was published on December 14th, 2020
2020 has been one of the most difficult years in living memory for many people across the world. However, the festive season offers a welcome distraction from the usual routine of everyday life. Although this year families and friends may be celebrating in very different ways due to the current extraordinary circumstances, Christmas injuries will likely still occur.
A recent survey revealed that one in ten adults in the UK burn their Turkey at Christmas. In this blog post we want to give you peace of mind that, even if you do have a turkey mishap, you’ll be better equipped to stay injury-free throughout the holiday season, by remaining aware of the twelve injuries of Christmas outlined below.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the twinkling lights on almost every street.
Christmas lights are perhaps one of the key components of capturing the magic of the festive season and they are loved by adults and children alike. However, they are also one of the most common causes of injuries at Christmas.
Many sets of lights spend 11 months of the year hidden in the garage, under the stairs or out of sight until it’s time for the holiday season to begin.
As a result, they aren’t safety checked often.
There are a few things you can do to ensure you, your friends and family stay as safe as possible this Christmas if you plan on putting up lights.
Make sure you switch off your lights at night and unplug them. Check that the lights you use outside are safe for external use and keep flammable objects such as Christmas cards away from lights as the heat can build up over time and cause a fire.
Back injuries are becoming increasingly common during Christmas.
If you work in a role that requires a lot of heavy lifting, particularly during the festive season, such as retail or warehouse operatives, ensure you are trained in the correct technique to lift.
Likewise, if you are an employer you owe a duty of care to your employees to ensure their safety at all times whilst they are in the work environment. This includes ensuring they are aware of basic health and safety practices and are trained in the correct techniques to ensure they can carry out their duties safely.
Unfortunately, the number of road traffic collisions and accidents increases during the festive period compared to any other time of year.
It is partly due to increased number of vehicles on the road as people drive to visit their loved ones, whilst poor judgment and alcohol also have an influence in the increase of accidents as people consume too much alcohol during the holiday season.
Taking basic measures such as abstaining from drinking at a party if you are driving home, checking live traffic services such as Google Maps to avoid heavy traffic and planning your journey can all help you stay safer when driving at Christmas.
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Whilst the white stuff definitely adds a little something extra to the Christmas festivities it can also increase the level of risk of suffering an injury.
Wearing appropriate clothing and footwear is essential and if you plan on driving a vehicle it’s important you are aware of the risks involved in addition to what to do differently. This guide by the RAC can help.
If you are an employer or the owner of a business you may also need to ensure your premises are safe for both employees and visitors by providing them with clear and safe pathways.
Whilst this year may see fewer people visiting shops as they social distance and stay safe, shopping is still an integral part of the Christmas period.
An increased number of customers can be both a blessing and a curse for businesses owners as they must ensure the safety of more people within their stores.
Christmas increases the risk of an occupier’s liability claim being brought. To help prevent this happening business owner must ensure their premises are safe, and that any additional decorations and window dressings don’t affect the safety of those who work or shop there.
Everyone indulges a little more than they usually would over the Christmas period. It’s become a national tradition to treat yourself to your favourite foods. However, a daring few may deviate and try something new.
Whether you are a restaurant or food product company, it’s essential any ingredients are clearly labelled to avoid any harm coming to your customers.
Hanging decorations can help elevate the appearance of homes and businesses alike, helping them stand out from the crowd, and spread Christmas cheer.
On the other hand, hanging decorations can often be sharp and/or heavy and if they fall and hit someone or something they can cause devastating injuries.
Having a drink with family and friends is a Christmas staple, however, for some overindulging could spell disaster.
Not only does alcohol consumption increase the risk of injury for yourself, but it also increases the likelihood of those around you suffering an injury too.
So make sure that you drink responsibly this Christmas.
Preparing the turkey and all the trimmings is no mean feat for even the most seasoned of chefs, however, each December every household has a designated chef, sometimes with little to no previous culinary experience, who is thrown in at the deep end and asked to come up with one of the most important meals of the year.
Unsurprisingly this leads to an increase in culinary-related injuries.
Cutting yourself when carving the turkey and spilling hot fat on exposed skin are both regular injuries suffered at Christmas, with a reported 49% of people in the UK suffering similar injuries at Christmas.
Whether it’s hanging decorations up, dancing on tables, or stumbling after having one too many. Whatever the reason may be, the fact is falling is a common cause of injuries during the festive period, with 2.6 million people falling whilst putting decorations up each year.
Stay safe and only stand on something designed for helping you reach higher such as a ladder that is placed against a firm surface, with another person holding the bottom of it for added security.
The Christmas tree is the centrepiece of every household’s Christmas decor, whilst many people now opt for a synthetic tree, many households also continue to choose the natural option.
Falling trees, watering a tree while the lights are still on and ornaments breaking after falling off are all responsible for some of the most common Christmas injuries.
For Children, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, with parent’s do all they can to make it extra special, which often involves sourcing the latest big toy.
However, it’s important that toys are safe and purchased from a reputable source.
If a toy or any other product is faulty, it has the potential to have catastrophic consequences, which could lead to a product liability claim.
Whether it’s Christmas or any other time of year, our personal injury team are here to help.
Whilst we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas period, accidents can happen and injuries may occur.
If you would like to discuss a potential claim with one of our team, please contact us today by calling us for free on 0800 1979 345 or completing our online enquiry form.
We offer a no win no fee service in addition to a free initial interview to help us learn more about your claim and advise you on the steps you should take next.