The holiday season is a time for family and friends to come together, give thanks, and celebrate, but unfortunately, it is also a time of year that we see an increase in injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, doctors’ offices, emergency rooms, and other clinics see over 60,000 patients for injuries pertaining to simple holiday tasks, like decorating. Combine this with an additional 186,000 visits for injuries related to winter sports, and it becomes clear why it’s important to stay alert and take steps to ward off preventable accidents.
Nothing puts a damper on a holiday celebration like a sudden injury, so we’re sharing some of the best ways to prevent injuries this holiday season.
Watch Your Step
Even Texas is subject to overnight freezing temperatures during the winter months. Combining the wet winter weather with the occasional freeze can make for unexpected ice and slippery conditions. We know that a busy morning can mean rushing out the door, but we encourage you to take an extra moment to watch your step when you leave the house. Not only can falls cause new injuries, but they also can worsen old or existing injuries. Making sure you watch your step and look for ice is one of the best ways to prevent injuries this holiday season.
Wear the Proper Equipment
Whether you’re staying home for the holidays or going on a winter vacation, proper equipment is key in preventing injuries. The winter months bring unique weather conditions across the country, so it’s important to dress for these weather patterns. Make sure your footwear has traction on wet, slippery, or icy surfaces. When it comes to winter sports, having high-quality, well-fitting equipment is essential in keeping you safe. Get professionally fitted for sports like skiing and snowboarding, and always double-check that your gear is in good condition.
Decorate Carefully
As we previously mentioned, decorating the house for the holidays is the culprit behind various injuries. Hanging decorations, stringing lights, and putting up trees may be some of your beloved traditions, but they can also be dangerous if you’re not paying attention. Prevent injuries this holiday season by ensuring your ladder is in good condition, using it properly, asking for help when needed, and saving the holiday drinks until after the decorating is complete.
Warm Up Muscles
If you are participating in any winter activities, make sure you warm up your muscles beforehand. Even if you have been skating, skiing, or snowboarding your whole life, it’s more than likely that you haven’t practiced the sport in at least a year. By starting back where you left off, you’re putting yourself in a position to injure yourself. Take time to warm up and ease back into any winter activity you haven’t practiced in a while.
Pay Attention to Previous Injuries
Colder temperatures may cause previous injuries or other muscles in the body to stiffen up, leading to increased discomfort in the winter months. While cold therapy is standard in caring for injuries, heat therapy may work better in these situations. Heating pads or warm towels can help loosen stiffness and improve circulation in areas subject to cold weather discomfort. Relieving this pain can also help prevent injuries this holiday season. When you feel loose and comfortable, you are less likely to strain other parts of your body, overcompensating for the areas of discomfort.
Consult an Orthopedic Specialist
The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about how you can prevent injuries this holiday season, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.
