The most dangerous time of the year

With all the excitement that Christmas brings it can be hard to remember the perils of the holiday season. With everyone busy trying to find the perfect present and the endless amounts of Christmas decorations, there’s barely enough time to think about staying safe. Molly Puntis, Personal Injury Claims Handler, highlights what to watch out for to keep you and your loved ones safe this Christmas.

Accidents on the Road

Every year millions of people take to the roads to visit loved ones over Christmas. "Sadly the odds of being in a road traffic accident statistically escalate at Christmas due to the high volume of drivers on the road," begins Molly. "The number of road traffic collisions rises during December by a huge 30% for women and 9% for men, according to the Office of National statistics [1]. The winter weather conditions are thought to be partly at fault for this rise."

Planning each journey is crucial, and ensuring you’re ready for any weather conditions can increase your chances of staying safe. "Make sure you have blankets, a water supply and torches before each journey in case of a break down," explains Molly. "Before you set off also check your tyre pressure and your mirrors are all free of obstruction."

It’s not only the weather that causes this rise in collisions, but also alcohol. "With Christmas parties taking place throughout December, it’s important to be aware of your own alcohol levels and of those around you," continues Molly. "Drinking and driving is dangerous under any circumstances, combined with the icy weather conditions, a driver can easily lose control."

Faulty Toys

"Children look forward to opening their presents on Christmas morning and seeing what delights St. Nick has bought them, however it can be disappointing when a toy breaks later that day," explains Molly. "It can be hard to tell if your purchase is authentic but it’s advised you buy products from a reputable retailer and always check their returns policy. Make sure that you keep proof of your purchase to return faulty goods, as consumer rights entitle you to a refund. Looking for a bargain may be cheaper initially, but the money spent trying to return faulty goods or to repair them when they can’t be returned, added to the expenditure of possibly replacing the toy, could add up to be more expensive."

"Most toys are checked against health and safety regulations, however mistakes can still be made," states Molly. "Children should be supervised when playing with toys, especially those that have small parts which younger children may choke on."

Christmas Lunch

"If you have a large family joining you for Christmas every year you may not enjoy Christmas lunch as much as your guest," explains Molly. "For those of us who cook, it’s important to bear in mind food safety when preparing and cooking food. There are some extremely obvious measures you can take, such as always wearing oven gloves, make sure all pot handles are turned inward to prevent people from knocking boiling liquids over, and keep a first aid kit and fire extinguisher or fire blanket nearby."

Food poisoning should also be at the forefront of your mind. Make sure all surfaces are clean to prevent the spread of bacteria and all food is cooked thoroughly, especially meat and fish," continues Molly. "All food should be kept at the correct temperature to stop bacteria multiplying, and finally, to avoid cross-contamination, the surface that your raw turkey is prepared on shouldn’t be the same surface as vegetables."

Christmas tree

The Christmas tree is normally one of the focal points of the holiday season, but beware - they are not as innocent as they look. "Every year, about 1,000 people are injured by their tree, usually while fixing lights or other decorations to the higher branches, reports the RoSPA," continues Molly. "Caution when decorating your home is needed, as adults can fall from using unstable chairs instead of ladders when putting a star on top of the tree, or fall from lofts when looking for Christmas decorations."

Christmas decorations can also cause of a fire. "Ensure you unplug the tree lights before watering, or get a fake tree which requires less maintenance and are less flammable than real trees which can set alight when dry," concludes Molly. "Make sure all candles are blown out before leaving the house or going to bed, and do not to overload electric sockets. Although festive to have your home covered from top to bottom in lights, having too many could lead to an electrical fire."

For any advice on how to keep safe over the Christmas period you can contact Molly or any member of the Personal Injury team by calling 0800 91 92 30 or visiting their section of the website here.

ENDS

This is for information purposes only and is no substitute for, and should not be interpreted as, legal advice.  All content was correct at the time of publishing and we cannot be held responsible for any changes that may invalidate this article.

[1] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/cooking-turkey-safely/