The Most Common Injuries Around the Holidays
It's likely that the last thing you want to think about during the holidays is visiting the emergency room or urgent care. Unfortunately, with all the excitement of the festivities also comes an increased risk of injury for young and old family members alike.
At WiseCare Urgent Care, with locations in Lake Severna, Pasadena, and Millersville, Maryland, our team of medical professionals led by Dr. Perry Weisman is ready and able to help treat injuries during the holiday season. The trick is knowing what the signs of potentially serious injuries are and when you should come to urgent care for assistance.
A guide to common holiday injuries
You would think that road accidents and winter sports like skiing would be the main causes of injuries during the holiday season. While injuries from both do go up, numbers show that relatively mundane occurrences surrounding the festivities are responsible for most emergencies seen during this time of the year.
For children, the main danger is toys that come with small detachable pieces or batteries. With all the gifts kids receive from visiting relatives in November and December, parents have to be alert about the possibility of young children choking on small pieces of plastic or pushing small components or batteries up their noses and ears. Playtime with the cousins can quickly turn into an emergency run to urgent care.
By far the most common injuries for adults coming into urgent care during the last eight weeks of the year relate to cuts, falls, and back injuries. Falls and back strains can easily happen while installing string lights and setting up Christmas trees.
How to know when to seek medical assistance
While going to urgent care might sound like a huge inconvenience, it’s very important to know when you shouldn't postpone seeing a doctor.
Cuts
If the wound is deep, puncture-like, very dirty, involves a joint, or is gaping open, you need professional care. Major cuts can require stitches, antibiotics, or even a tetanus shot. Minor cuts that won’t stop bleeding should also be seen to, especially if you are on blood thinners.
Falls
Bumps and bruises can often be tended to at home. However, if a few hours have passed and you're still in pain or have problems moving an extremity, it’s important to be evaluated by a professional. If an older person takes a fall and a fracture is even suspected, head for urgent care as soon as possible. The same goes if a head impact causes loss of consciousness or disorientation — you could have a concussion.
Back strain
It’s too tempting for many to engage in an impromptu family game of contact sports, and this can lead to back injury after a clumsy tackle or two. Picking up grandkids who’ve doubled their weight over the past year can cause back strain as well. If your pain won’t go away after resting, and you have worrisome symptoms (like incontinence, numbness, weakness, or fever), you should head to urgent care.WiseCare Urgent Care can be your solution when you need medical help in a hurry. You can walk in at any time, call us at 410-225-7900.