Christmas should always rhyme with joy, happiness, family. It may happen, however, that due to the euphoria of Christmas, and often the stress that the festivities bring with it, Christmas becomes an increased risk to the health and safety of the whole family. During Christmas and New Year’s holidays, some types of traumas and poisoning are often due to inattention and, in some cases, lack of information – explains Dr. Antonio Voza, Humanitas Hospital First Aid. – In particular, to spend Christmas in health and safety, especially serenely in the family, it is important to pay attention to:
Christmas Plants: Children in particular are attracted to the red types of plants such as mistletoe, or holly, that can be toxic and irritating
Ribbons and decorations: Whether it’s Christmas tree decorations or packages, ribbons are always a great attraction for the little ones. Letting them play with decorations and ribbons as sculptures or necklaces increases the risk of twisting them around their neck and suffocating. Also, decorating the tree with some old family decorations, such as glass or metal balls, or glass stars with tips, can increase the chance of trauma to hands and eyes especially in the event of accidental breakage. So be careful when decorating the tree: in particular, the most fragile and glassy decorations should be placed out of the reach of children so they can fall and seriously injure
the festivities of Christmas and New Year are the right time to get the chef out in us. But beware of the tools you use when preparing Christmas and New Year’s Eve dishes especially if you are not really expert in preventing burns and hot water, as well as cutting with knives and kitchen knives.
to keep homemade: homemade tomato sauce, store bought tomato sauce, vegetable preserves and salsa prepared during the year to be put on the table for Christmas and New Year parties are likely to cause food poisoning with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea , vomiting or diarrhea, the whole family, and in particular children and the elderly. If the jar has a shape, odor odor or “odd”, a stopper raised in the center or is not sealed, it is best not to risk intoxication and throw the contents.
Alcohol: If from appetizers to dessert and coffee mugs is all a succession of bubbles, wines and liqueurs, it is best to avoid getting into the guide even if you feel sobriety. In fact, between drowsiness due to food abuses and the effects of alcohol, along with possible ice on the roads, the risk of even serious accidents increases very much during the period of natural holidays
Christmas tree: If in order to decorate the tree, it is required to climb on a ladder or, better, by sitting, make sure you are not alone at home and especially pay attention to children or the elderly: in fact, the risk of traumas of falling, even in this case, it is more frequent than you think besides the fact that, when falling, it is almost natural to hang on to a tree that is likely to fall on a person with all its glass decorations and the colored light wires that increase the risk of injury and skin wounds.
candles and fires: surely there is no Christmas candles and New Year without fire in the fireplace. Be careful, however, about placing the candles on the Christmas tree as a centerpiece, especially if there are children among children, and always use parascintils to protect themselves from the sparks that come from the discovery of firewood. In fact, a spark is enough to cause burns on the skin and small or large fire at home. Also be careful to pass your hands and arms over the used candles as a centerpiece: the burn risk is ensured
Christmas Lights: Even though we do not use decorating and decorating homes with a thousand Christmas lights like Americans, however, using and re-used Christmas lights for years and years without any control over the safety of the plugs and power plugs , may increase the risk of short-circuits and fires that may flake due to the presence of highly flammable materials on the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree itself, and paper-covered gift packs placed under the tree. Reviewing the wires of the lights, checking that they are CE-compliant, working and free of charge electrical wires, as well as avoiding that the power outlet is in the immediate vicinity of the Christmas tree, can reduce the risk of fire from short circuits.
Temperature swings: congestion, which is the blockage of digestion, which can ruin the holidays and cause the unhealthy commensal a few days to hot tubs and hot tea due to the vomiting, nausea and diarrhea that congestion causes, is one of the consequences of Temperature fluctuations especially if you leave the area very warm at outside temperatures without covering yourself adequately to watch the shows of New Year’s lights and fireworks. Particular attention is given to cardiopaths, however: the heart does not like the cold and could cause a loss of cardiovascular disease not to be underestimated. In this case, call the ambulance and do not try to wait: There is no joking when it comes to your heart
New Year’s Eve fireworks: they represent the real New Year’s performance, often followed by a war news bulletin in terms of injuries. It does not count the trauma due to risk underestimation, excessive safety in handling them, especially when adults allow kids and children to use the most harmless firecrackers. Unfortunately, there are no harmless pyrotechnic fireworks: from injuries and traumas that are very serious to your hands and eyes, problems caused by hearing the explosions in a way that is permanent up to even smoke poisoning, it is preferable to keep a distance from the fireworks, that is at least 4 meters, avoid handling them with inexperienced children and teenagers, be careful not to restart unexploded ones, avoid bursting the firecrackers in bottles and cans to increase the intensity of the bang, and protect the nose and mouth with a scarf or handkerchief in case the smoke becomes dense as it may happen in the square celebrations for the coming year.
