The 8 life-saving tips you need to know this Christmas – from burns to choking and dog bites
CHRISTMAS should be filled with fun and cheer, but it can also be a time for mishaps and accidents.
All that mulled wine, food and present wrapping can increase our risks of a range of health issues, from choking to burns.
The problem is, do you know what to do if something goes wrong and someone needs help?
Health and first aid charity St John Ambulance and the NHS are urging everyone to ‘slow down’ this Christmas, to avoid preventable mishaps from happening as we rush around for December 25 and beyond.
medical director, Lynn Thomas said: “The festive period is a joyful time but should come with a health warning with the number of things that could go wrong.
“The DIY decorations, hordes of people under one roof, excessive eating and drinking and new toys and gadgets to choke on or trip over.
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“Unfortunately it is often the young and elderly who are at increased risk of a Christmas first aid incident, especially with choking on finger foods or children putting small toy pieces in mouths.
“But the good news is that if you are all together, there is more chance of someone intervening, especially if they know first aid.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England's medical director, added: "We hope everyone has a happy and healthy Christmas – but accidents and injuries can happen, so if you do burn yourself putting the roast potatoes in the oven, or you pick up a winter virus and want some support to manage the symptoms, the NHS website is the best place to find useful advice on what to do.
"NHS staff will still be working hard throughout the festive season to provide care for those most in need and anyone in need of emergency help should contact 999, or 111 for less urgent health needs."
Here, they outline the festive first aid tips to help see you and the family through Christmas unscathed…
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1. HEALTH RISK: CANDLES
Christmas is a hotspot for fires.
In fact, visits to the NHS page on burn guidance increased 50 per cent on Christmas Day and Boxing Day last year, newly-released NHS England figures show.
Therefore, it's vital that you don’t leave candles unattended and blow them out before you go to bed.
Make sure they are in suitable non-plastic holders/containers and keep them away from any decorations/cards/curtains.
Keep candles, heaters and fires away from Christmas cards, wrapping paper and decorations.
If you have small children or elderly guests – consider LED candles instead.
What to do if you do get a burn:
Move the person away from the heat and danger and cool the injury as soon as possible.
Place the burn or scald under cool water for 20 minutes minimum or until the pain goes away.
If the burn is deep, or larger than the person’s hand, on their face, hands, feet, intimate area or the casualty is a child - call 999 immediately.
Remove jewellery and clothing around the area, unless stuck to the burn.
Cover the burn loosely, lengthways with kitchen film to help prevent infection and keep it clean. Don’t burst blisters.
2. HEALTH RISK: ALCOHOL POISONING
One of the most visited NHS web pages over Christmas in 2023 was the one with advice for alcohol poisoning, with almost 60 per cent more views on December 25 and 26 than a normal 48 hours.
Alcohol poisoning can happen when you drink booze quicker than your body can process it.
It can make you seriously ill and you may need to go to hospital for treatment.
Symptoms include: confusion, slurred words, being unable to coordinate movement, being sick, peeing or pooing yourself, slow or irregular breathing, pale or blue-tinged skin, and loss of consciousness.
Introduce measures to avoid alcohol poisoning like limiting yourself to one drink per hour, having a glass of water between drinks, eating a full meal while drinking, and setting a limit before you start.
What to do if you do get alcohol poisoning:
Always call 999 if you think someone has alcohol poisoning.
While you wait for an ambulance or further advice, stay with the person because there is a risk they could choke or their own sick or stop breathing.
Sit them upright if they're awake, or put them in the recovery position if they've passed out (but check they're breathing properly).
Give them water to sip on slowly, if they're able to swallow, and keep them warm with a jacket or a blanket.
Don't try to make them sick, never give them coffee or other caffeinated drinks, and don't put them in a cold shower.
Hospital treatment is required for alcohol poisoning as patients need to monitored.
It can cause serious complications, like liver and heart failure, which can be fatal.
When to call 999 for adults and children
You should call 999 in life-threatening emergencies.
For adults, this includes:
- Signs of a heart attack (chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness, squeezing)
- Signs of a stroke (face dropping on one side, unable to hold both arms up, difficulty speaking)
- Sudden confusion (doesn't know own name)
- Suicide attempt
- Severe difficulty breathing (unable to speak, choking, gasping)
- Choking
- Heavy bleeding (spraying, pouring, making a puddle)
- Severe injuries (after a serious accident or assault)
- Seizure
- Sudden and rapid swelling (lips, mouth, throat, tongue)
For children, this includes:
- Seizure
- Choking
- Difficulty breathing (grunting noises, stomach sucking under rib cage)
- Unable to stay awake (can't keep eyes open for more than a few seconds)
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, tongue or lips
- Limp and floppy (head falls to the side, backwards or forwards)
- Heavy bleeding (spraying, pouring, making a puddle)
- Severe injuries (after a serious accident or assault)
- Signs of a stroke (face dropping on one side, unable to hold both arms up, difficulty speaking)
- Sudden and rapid swelling (lips, mouth, throat, tongue)
- Sudden confusion (agitation, odd behaviour, non-stop crying)
Source:
3. HEALTH RISK: FALLS
Father Christmas might fall down the chimney, but there’s no reason you should be taking a tumble too.
Take your time putting up decorations – rushing can lead to trips, falls and sprains.
Don’t go up to the loft to retrieve tinsel and baubles alone - get help from a family member, friend, or neighbour.
And don’t cut corners by standing on a chair or stool, and if you have a stepladder, use it.
What to do if you fall:
Look out for pain and tenderness, swelling and bruising and difficulty moving the area, especially if it’s a joint.
R – Rest the injured part. Sit or lie down
I - Apply an ice pack or cold compress such as frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel for around 20 minutes
C – Comfortable support. Use blankets, cushions to support the injury
E – Elevate the injured part
4. HEALTH RISK: BITES
It's not just humans that can get overexcited at Christmas.
Pets can too - especially when they're away from home, or when their usually-quiet house is full of guests. And this can result in bites.
Visits to the NHS advice page on animal and human bites rose by almost a third over Christmas in 2023, and the rabies page saw a 123 per cent rise.
What to do if you get bitten:
Most animal bites are not serious, but you may need to get medical help if the bite is severe or there are signs of infection.
First, clean the skin around the wound with soap and warm water – you can also use antiseptic, but try not to get it in the wound.
Try to remove any objects like teeth, hair or dirt from the wound using running water, and gently squeeze the wound so it bleeds slightly.
Then, press a dry dressing or clean cloth firmly onto the wound to stop the bleeding.
Gently pat it dry, cover it again with a clean dressing, and take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease any pain and swelling.
If the wound seems hot or swollen, has fluid leaking from it, and smells unpleasant, or you have a high temperature or were bitten on your hands or feet, call NHS 111 for advice.
Always go to A&E if the wound is large or deep, you were bitten on your face or head, or you cannot stop the bleeding.
A doctor or nurse may need to give you antibiotics and check your risk of getting tetanus and rabies, which can be life-threatening.
Tetanus is rare, but the chances of getting it are higher if you've not been fully vaccinated. In the UK, rabies is only found in some bats.
5. HEALTH RISK: FAIRY LIGHTS
De-tangling fairy lights can be a right pain, as can getting a shock from lights on the blink.
Once you’ve (finally) untangled them, check for damaged or frayed cables.
If you do find any, recycle them and stick to tinsel or buy a new set.
Check they work before putting them up and if you have a real Christmas tree, always unplug lights before watering the tree to reduce the risk of electric shocks.
Double check any exterior lights are safe and designed for outdoor use and keep plugs/transformers indoors.
What to do if you do get an electric shock:
Move the person away from the electrical source.
You may be able to stand on some dry insulating material (such as a plastic mat or wooden box) and use a broom handle or wooden pole to push the casualty's hand or foot away from the source.
If it’s not possible to break contact using a wooden object, loop some rope around the underneath of the casualty’s arms or ankles and pull them away from the electrical source.
Do not touch the casualty until they are clear of the electrical source.
Once you’re sure the contact has been broken between the casualty and the electrical source, perform treat any injuries.
In the case of cardiac arrest:
Check for a response – gently shake the person’s shoulders, and talk to them or ask a question.
If there is no response – shout for help and open the airway.
Gently tilt the head - the mouth should fall open. Lift the chin.
Check breathing - look, listen and feel for signs of breathing for no more than ten seconds.
If they are not breathing call 999/112 for emergency help.
Kneel beside the casualty, level with their chest. Place the heel of one hand directly in the centre of the chest, put your other hand on top, interlock fingers.
Begin chest compressions – lean over the casualty, with your arms straight and press down vertically on the breastbone (about two to three inches).
Release the pressure but do not take your hands off the chest.
Repeat the rate of 100 to 120 per minute (think of the beat to Staying Alive) until emergency help arrives, or the casualty starts coughing, breathing or talking.
What to do if someone is choking
Mild choking
If the airway is only partly blocked, the person will usually be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe, and may be able to clear the blockage themselves.
In adults:
- Encourage them to keep coughing
- Ask them to try to spit out the object
- Don't put your fingers in their mouth
- If coughing doesn't work, start back blows
In children:
- If you can see the object, try to remove it (but don't poke blindly)
- Encouraging coughing
- Shout for help if coughing isn't effective or the child is silent
- Use back blows if the child is still conscious but not coughing
Severe choking
In adults:
Where choking is severe, the person won't be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe.
Without help, they'll eventually become unconscious, so you should carry out back blows.
In children:
Back blows can be carried out on children under one year.
If this doesn't work, chest thrusts can be started on kids up to 12 months old, and abdominal thrusts on those over one year.
Call 999 if the blockage doesn't come out after trying back blows and either chest or abdominal thrusts.
Keep trying this cycle until help arrives.
Even if the object has come out, get medical help. Part of the object might have been left behind, or the patient might have been hurt by the procedure.
Source: NHS
6. HEALTH RISK: TOYS
Anyone who has experienced the agony of stepping barefoot on Lego or a plastic toy will know the best thing to do is keep floorspaces tidy.
Be extra cautious around small button batteries which can look like shiny sweets and are dangerous if swallowed.
If a battery is accidentally swallowed, the casualty should be taken to the nearest A&E as soon as possible.
Tidy away new toys to a corner when not being played with – especially small brightly coloured building blocks and hard to see toys, as well as wires and stray controllers.
Have scissors to hand for opening tough packaging and only let adults/older children use them.
Make sure gifts to children are age appropriate – and will not be eaten or become a choking hazard.
What to do if someone starts choking:
Ask them if they can breathe or speak, they may be able to clear their own throat. Encourage them to cough.
For a choking adult - help them to lean forwards, supporting their upper body with one hand.
With the heel of your other hand give them five sharp back blows between their shoulder blades.
After each back blow, check their mouth and pick out any obvious obstruction.
Give five abdominal thrusts - stand behind them and put your arms around their waist.
Place one hand in a clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest.
With your other hand, grasp your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times.
Check their mouth again, each time. If the blockage still hasn’t cleared, call 999. If they become unresponsive, prepare to start CPR.
7. HEALTH RISK: KITCHEN FAILS
Feeding a horde of relatives and friends can be stressful, so make sure people chip in and help.
Be careful when preparing vegetables and carving the meats to avoid knife cuts.
In the stress of serving up Christmas dinner on time, corners may be cut.
Make sure you allow plenty of time to cook your bird and stuffing so no one goes down with food poisoning.
Singed eyebrows aren’t a great look, so don’t walk and talk with a flaming Christmas pud.
Instead set light to it on a safe counter, away from little ones, or on the festive table.
Remind guests to let you know if they have allergies and if you have one yourself, ensure you have antihistamines in your cupboard and carry your EpiPen for a more serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
What to do if you cut yourself:
Clean the wound by rinsing it under running water or using sterile wipes.
Pat the wound dry using a gauze swab and cover it with sterile gauze.
Remove the cloth or gauze covering the wound and apply a sterile dressing or a large plaster.
Seek medical help if a wound won’t stop bleeding, a foreign object is embedded in the wound – like a splinter of wood or glass, the wound is from a human or animal bite, you think the wound might be infected, you are unsure whether the casualty has been immunised against tetanus.
What to do if you suspect anaphylactic shock:
Call 999/112 for help and tell them you suspect anaphylactic shock. If the casualty has an adrenaline auto-injector (epi pen) help them to use it.
Pull off the safety cap and holding it with your fist, push the tip firmly against the casualty’s thigh until it clicks, releasing the medication (it can be delivered through clothing) .
Hold in place for ten seconds (follow the instructions on the device), then remove.
Help the casualty sit up, in a position that best relieves breathing difficulty.
If they are pale, with a weak pulse, help them to lie down with their legs raised.
If they have more than one EpiPen, Repeated doses of adrenaline can be given at five minute intervals if there is no improvement, while waiting for help to arrive.
8. HEALTH RISK: SKY HIGH STRESS
Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect. Try not to get overwhelmed.
What to do if you feel a panic attack coming on:
Do not breathe into a brown paper bag - it may aggravate a more serious illness.
Panic attacks can be terrifying for the casualty.
Be kind, reassure them and lead the casualty to a quiet place so they can regain control of their breathing more easily.
If they are breathing too fast, coach their breathing and attempt to slow it down. Ask them to breathe in for five seconds, hold for five seconds and breathe out for five seconds.
Repeat this until their breathing calms to a normal rate.
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Encourage them to seek medical advice on preventing panic attacks and controlling them in the future.
If you are concerned that the casualty is not getting better, or you cannot calm their breathing, call 999/112 for an ambulance.