Decking the Halls (without decking yourself): Your guide to surviving the silly season
'Tis the season to be jolly... and surprisingly accident-prone! We've seen our share of festive mishaps but before you wrap those presents, let's help you get through your celebrations safely. Because nothing ruins a Christmas party quite like an unplanned trip to the ED.
Pop goes the Christmas party
Here's a fact that'll make your eyes water: According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a champagne cork can travel up to 80 kph when popped and has enough force to shatter glass. Every year, errant corks cause serious eye injuries and even blindness. So stay clear of those poppers and point your champagne away from others!
Too hot to handle
SA Health tells us that hospital admissions spike during our summer holiday season, with heat-related illnesses being a major culprit. Turns out "cooking yourself by the pool" isn't actually a festive activity!
What you need to know:
That car you've parked in the sun? It's basically turned into an oven
Your body can dehydrate faster than your uncle can tell his favourite Christmas joke
The peak UV danger zone is between 10am and 3pm (exactly when you're planning that backyard cricket match, right?)
The prawn cocktail of doom
According to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand, 4.1 million Aussies get food poisoning each year. Don’t be another one of them at Christmas time. Make sure you keep cold food below 5C and hot food above 60C and when in doubt, throw it out.
Keep your holidays memorable… for the right reasons
For champagne celebrations:
Chill your bubbles (warm bottles are more likely to pop unexpectedly)
Point that cork away from faces
Hold the cork while twisting the bottle (not the other way around)
In the heat:
We know you’re on holiday but hydrate like it's your job (and no, beer doesn't count as water)
Seek shade during peak UV hours
Watch for signs of heat stress (if Uncle Bob's looking redder than Santa's suit, get him inside)
Be prepared, not scared
While we can't prevent every holiday mishap (especially after your third Christmas cocktail), being prepared makes all the difference.
Plus there is always CPR and first aid training so you can be prepared all year round.
Get in touch so that we can work out a customised approach to your workplace training needs.
We believe being prepared shouldn’t be seen as being boring. We want you to remember your first aid skills better than you remember where you hide the Christmas decorations every year!
The information provided in this blog offers general insights only. It is important to note that this content is not intended to serve as medical advice and if you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 000 immediately.
