The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. Families gather, spend quality time together, visit their friends, exchange presents, and share lovely moments they’ll cherish forever. When Christmas and New Year come around, we’re more focused on celebrations and presents we’re going to buy, but somehow always neglect health and safety. To have a wonderful holiday season, you need to keep yourself and others safe. Below, you can see what to do to survive the New Year holiday season.
Common injuries
The festive period is all about spreading love, but it can be stressful. Stress increases the risk of injuries. Some of the most common injuries and accidents during the holiday season include:
- Spilling hot fat on yourself while cooking
- Getting cut when preparing vegetables
- Electric shock caused by poorly wired Christmas lights
- Falling when putting up decorations
- Falling on ice
- Allergies
- Choking (especially kids who try to swallow decorations)
- Indigestion
- Food poisoning
Also Read – BEST AYURVEDIC HERBS TO FIGHT OFF STRESS & ANXIETY
Learn first aid
Although first aid is something that all of us should know, sometimes we forget about the basics or don’t take the course at all. This can pave the way to complications after injuries. Keep in mind that injuries and accidents are manageable, and the way you first react to them can influence recovery, either accelerate or slow it down. First aid responder training could be a great way to have a safe and healthy holiday season. You’ll know how to reduce the risk of injuries, but also how to take care of them properly.
Stock up on medications
During the festive period, pharmacies usually don’t work. If you take prescription medications for a certain health condition, you may want to ensure you won’t run out of them during this time. It’s also useful to get over-the-counter painkillers just in case you or someone else experiences aches and pains. Stocking up on medications, especially prescription-based, is important for the management of your condition. Remember, taking someone else’s medications is not recommended.
Stock up on first-aid kit supplies
You need to ensure the first aid kit is stocked up at all times, regardless of the season and holidays. Ideally, you should have one kit in your home and another one in the car.
Some basic supplies to include into your kit include adhesive tape, elastic wrap bandages, bandage strips, superglue, roller gauze in assorted sizes, eye shield or pad, bulk disposable gloves, antibiotic ointment, hand sanitizer, instant cold packs, hydrogen peroxide for disinfection, antacids, laxatives, anti-diarrhoea medications, among other things.
Increase vitamin C intake
A strong immune system will protect you against flu and cold, so you don’t end up getting ill this winter. Boosting immune system defences is also important in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Be careful
Staying safe and healthy this holiday season is particularly important to avoid getting infected with COVID-19. Maintain your distance, wear a mask in public, wash your hands frequently, and carry a hand sanitiser when you aren’t home.
Don’t drink too much
Consumption of alcohol may impair our motor abilities and increase the risk of injuries at home or on the road. Protect yourself and others this New Year holiday season by opting not to drink too much. Opt for non-alcoholic beverages instead.
Bottom line
Your essential first aid kit should be fully stocked, contain everything you need for injuries such as cuts and falls, but also feature medications you may need during this time of the year. Stay safe. Happy holidays.
References
https://www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/news/12-hazards-of-christmas
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-kits/basics/art-20056673
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.