SAN ANTONIO – Household injuries increase during the month of December for many reasons. Because of the holiday season, people cook and decorate more than they normally do, and therefore injuries are more common.
The Greater San Antonio Emergency Physicians see many ladder injuries in particular.
“Ladder injuries are big this time of year, with all the decorating going on both inside the house and outside the house,” Dr. Dale Crockett, an emergency medicine physician with GSEP, said.
Injuries in the kitchen are also common during the holiday season.
For those who love to cook lavish Christmas dinners and do lots of holiday baking, be extra careful when using knives, especially with children around.
It’s also essential to keep tabs on any gas stoves, heaters, or fireplaces in the home because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
“It’s really important that you have your gas appliances inspected every so often and make sure they’re up to code,” Crockett said.
Because carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible, it’s nearly impossible to identify it on your own. A carbon monoxide detector is the best way to protect yourself.
For more tips on how to stay safe this holiday season, visit GSEP-pa.com or call 210-575-4411.