For Immediate Release
December 18, 2006

Contact: Howard Sutter
 (714) 834-2178

Preventing Holiday Injuries

(Santa Ana) – Each year, thousands of people in the United States spend time in a destination not typically associated with the Holiday Season – a hospital emergency room – for treatment of injuries.

“Emergency medical service personnel and hospital emergency room staff are very familiar with the types of injuries typically seen during the Holidays,” said Greg Boswell, RN, Orange County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program Manager. “By exercising caution and working to prevent injuries, we hope that everyone will be able to safely enjoy the Holidays.”

One concern during the holidays is the danger posed by drunk drivers. “Too many holiday celebrations end tragically because of drunk or impaired drivers,” Boswell said. In 2005, 46% of the fatal motor vehicle accidents in California were alcohol related. Motorists are also urged to obey posted speed limits and drive with caution on roads and highways that will be busy with holiday traffic. Other safety recommendations include:

• Ensuring that children riding in motor vehicles are seated in properly installed car and booster seats that are appropriate for their age and size.
• Including a helmet and other safety gear when giving active gifts like bikes and skateboards.
• Making sure that gifts are appropriate for the child’s age and never allowing infants and toddlers to use toys with small parts that could become choking hazards.
• Making sure that children remain properly seated in shopping carts (Over 17,000 children in the U.S. suffer injuries annually in falls from shopping carts).
• Using caution to prevent falls when putting up or removing holiday decorations.
• Making sure your home has working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and taking precautions to prevent fires associated with Christmas trees and Holiday candles.

Boswell also reminded motorists they can help emergency personnel by safely pulling their vehicle as far to the right as possible and coming to a complete stop whenever any emergency vehicle approaches.

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