GREENSBORO, N.C. — The holidays are a fun and festive time of year. No one wants to get sick or injured.
Of course, it happens. So, what do you do when it does?
Dr. Philip Lamptey from Cone Health Virtual and Urgent Care discussed things you should know for a healthy, injury-free holiday season, as well as what to do if someone does get sick or injured during the holidays.
How should people safely decorate their homes?
Lots of people enjoy decorating their homes around the holidays, which can present a fall risk if it's not done right.
Dr. Lamptey says there are a few things you want to keep in mind.
"First, you have to think of the Christmas tree itself. If you're putting it out, it should be on a level ground...if the Christmas tree is tilted over or the base is not well supported, it could fall over and cause injury to people," he said.
Make sure you also have a good ladder for putting up ornaments. You also want to think about the cords that might get in the way.
"Christmas trees come with cords, so everyone should make sure that the cords are safely tucked away and the high-traffic areas at home are also free from these cords," Dr. Lamptey said.
When should someone go to urgent care vs. an emergency room?
"If you have injuries with no significant deformities or deep wounds...or if somebody hits their head but didn't lose consciousness or they're not acting confused," Dr. Lamptey said.
We're also eating a lot of yummy food during the holidays, so how can we make sure we're staying safe in that regard?
"Choking is a big issue for children under five years old. It's the fourth-leading cause of death for children under five. For Christmas, we should think about not just the small ornaments but also food. Candy, popcorn, even peanut butter can cause choking," Dr. Lamptey said.
Dr. Lamptey also advises not leaving small ornaments on the floor. You might even want to keep them higher on the tree so children can't reach for them.
How can we stay safe from respiratory illnesses this holiday season?
"I recommend everybody get their vaccinations updated - COVD vaccines and flu vaccines. And recently, RSV is also becoming one of the big topics that we talk about. If you have a child who is less than 18 months, or you're an adult 65 years of age, or you're pregnant and in your third trimester, please discuss vaccination against RSV with your doctor," Dr. Lamptey said.
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