St Stephen’s Day (and the day after) are the two most accident-prone days of the year

 

Vhi SwiftCare Clinics urges customers to stay safe and well this Christmas

 22nd December 2015 – The team at Vhi SwiftCare Clinics is urging customers to stay safe and well in advance of December 26th  St. Stephen’s Day and December 27th, which in recent years have  been the busiest days of the year for the Clinics.

“We’d like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy Christmas but remind customers that there are lots of extra hazards in the home at this time of year”, says Dr Brian Gaffney, Medical Director Vhi SwiftCare Clinics. He added, “Many people change their routine over the holidays and are also generally catering for larger numbers. Simple accidents can occur very easily particularly when lifting extra-large cooking trays, taking packages down from a height, assembling toys and equipment and using the carving knife for the first time this year!”

“Injuries caused by trips and falls are particularly common at Christmas time as people try to negotiate their way through the extra clutter in the home. Every year we see people presenting at the Clinics with injuries relating to falls while putting up the Christmas lights or patients with minor shocks and burns from faulty lights or overloaded plugs. Of course being the middle of winter we also see a lot of patients suffering with coughs, colds and infections – with 2014 being our busiest year ever for these conditions”, said Dr Gaffney.

Busiest Days

Last year, Vhi SwiftCare Clinics treated over 300 patients on St. Stephen’s day, and approximately 330 patients the following day, 27th December.  Even before Christmas the Clinics were particularly busy with 324 people attending on Monday 22nd December. Dr Gaffney suggested taking a few simple steps to help prevent injuries over the period:-

  • By keeping clutter to a minimum. Falls are the most common accidents so tidy away any discarded boxes and wrappings and make sure stairs are well-lit and free from obstacles. When using a ladder, make sure there is someone holding the ladder or taking packages from you.
  • By not leaving candles to burn unattended at any time.
  • By buying age appropriate toys for children & by looking out for small items that could pose a choking hazard to younger children (swallowing Christmas light bulbs which have fallen to the ground is common).
  • By not lifting heavy or awkward items without assistance or clearing a pathway first.
  • By supervising children on any new toys with wheels and showing them how to use them safely.
  • By giving yourself enough time to prepare and cook Christmas dinner to avoid any hot fat, boiling water or sharp knife accidents that come from rushing around. Wipe up any spills quickly and keep anyone not helping with dinner out of the kitchen.
  • By keeping a scissors handy to open any packaging, so you're not tempted to use a knife.

 

Keeping bugs at bay

The main symptoms of winter colds and flu bugs are coughing, sneezing, blocked nose, sore throat and a high temperature. Dr Gaffney said, “My best advice is to try to rest, eat well and keep hydrated.  If you have a fever you may need extra fluids and you could also take painkillers or over the counter medicines. Speak to your pharmacist for information on symptomatic relief of any colds or infections”.  While most bugs will run their course, there are some cases where you will need to seek medical assistance.

Dr Gaffney concluded by saying “If the worst comes to the worst, I would advise people to seek medical attention over Christmas rather than waiting, to prevent an illness or injury from deteriorating further. The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics in Dublin (Dundrum and Airside, Swords) and Cork are open all year around, including Christmas Day, from 8am to 10pm.”

 

ENDS

Note to Editors

Vhi SwiftCare Clinics are Ireland’s first walk-in, urgent care clinics, providing rapid assessment, treatment and advice for patients with a range of minor injuries and illnesses.   Conditions that can be treated in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics include: potential breaks, sprains, bumps and bruises, minor burns or cuts that may need a stitch. 

The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics do not treat serious medical conditions such as difficulty in breathing, severe chest pain, loss of consciousness and severe burns. The Clinics do not treat children less than 12 months of age or pregnancy-related conditions. The Clinics can be visited by all members of the public, not just Vhi Healthcare members, and are open 365 days a year from 8am to 10pm. 

The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics can be contacted on 1890 866 966.  Further information on the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics is available on www.vhi.ie/swiftcare

 

Vhi_Press

22-Dec-2015