‘Tis the season to be jolly! For many of us, Christmas means adorning our homes with fairy lights, having the family round for a knees up, and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. However, the risk of accidents increases with a houseful of people rockin’ around the Christmas tree, children dizzy with excitement, and adults enjoying a festive tipple or three.
The last thing any of us need is a festive visit to A and E (although apparently 80,000 of us in the UK do end up there as a result of Christmas related accidents).
Since Santa is pretty busy at this time of year, our experienced personal injury solicitors have stepped in and put together ‘Santa’s Safety Checklist’ to help ensure the only thing that falls this Christmastime is snow – or maybe Santa, down the chimney (if you’re not on the Naughty List!).
Santa’s Safety Checklist
Check your lights
When the twinkling lights appear in windows and gardens, you know Christmas is coming. However, whether you use them to brighten up your Christmas tree or go all out with an illuminated display to rival the most festive Grotto, safety must come first where your festive lights are concerned.
Apart from the obvious fire risk that comes with using unsafe lights (always check for damage before using them and only use lights that carry the British Standard, CE or UKCA marking), other hazards include electric shocks and children swallowing bulbs.
Take care when hanging decorations
Decking the halls is part and parcel of the festivities for most of us, but it’s important to take care when doing so. Studies show that 1 in 50 people have injured themselves when retrieving their decorations from their lofts or fall off chairs when hanging lights or baubles. You should always use ladders carefully and never risk standing on unstable chairs or tables in a bid to put the final touches to your tree. That way, you can reduce the risk of falls, which can cause anything from a bruised ego to broken bones and fractures.
It’s not only our own safety we need to think about, though. If this year’s festive display involves hanging decorations overhead, it’s essential to ensure they’re properly secured to prevent them from landing on unsuspecting Christmas visitors and causing head injuries.
Prepare dinner safely
It’s your turn to host this year, and you’re tasked with whipping up a feast for a houseful of hungry guests. Kitchens can be danger zones at the best of times, with their sharp knives, hot ovens, and naked flames, but at Christmas time, when the pressure’s on and spirits are high, the accident risk shoots up.
Some common kitchen accidents include burns from boiling water and hot oven trays, cuts and lacerations from knives and food processors, and slips, trips, and falls from spilt liquids.
To navigate the minefield that is Christmas dinner effectively, preparation is key. By planning ahead, you can make sure you get everything on the table at the same time and avoid scrambling around the kitchen trying to stop the turkey from burning while the sprouts boil over. Remember, though, nobody expects perfection (and if they do, don’t invite them back next year). Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Christmas is all about being together and making memories. Creating a welcoming atmosphere is enough – nobody will notice if you forget the parsnips.
Have none for the road
Road Safety Charity Brake is calling on all drivers to ‘have none for the road’ this Christmas, and with good reason. While statistics indicate that the highest number of accidents caused by drink driving happen in August, December is a close second, seeing an average of 4,150 drink driving collisions.
Road traffic accidents are the most common cause of personal injury claims, resulting in anything from whiplash to traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and limb damage or amputation. So, if you’re the designated driver, give the Bailey’s a miss until you get home.
Enjoy the party – but do it safely
Love it or hate it, the work Christmas do is the one event when everyone you work with gets together to let their hair down. When the drinks are flowing, it’s important to be aware that letting your boss know what you think of their management style might not be the worst thing that can happen at the office Christmas party.
Spilt drinks, excessive alcohol consumption, and questionable dancing all lead to an increased risk of slips, trips and falls, causing injuries like cuts and broken bones. If your employer has pushed the boat out and provided entertainment, like games, injuries can arise from inadequate safety measures or faulty equipment.
Your employer has a duty to ensure your health and safety at work, and that duty can sometimes extend to social events like the Christmas party. However, it all depends on the specific facts of each scneario, so if you’ve been injured at your work Christmas party, speak to us. Our personal injury solicitors will advise you whether you have reasonable prospects of bringing an accident at work claim against your employer or not.
Much of Santa’s Safety Checklist is common sense and comes as second nature. However, amidst the Christmas mayhem, commonsense can sometimes take a backseat to Christmas pud and sherry, so it never hurts to take a step back and remember that nothing, not even Christmas, is more important than your safety and that of your loved ones.
All that’s left for us to do is thank you for your support throughout 2024 and wish our valued clients and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
