Avoiding Common Christmas Accidents This Holiday

Avoiding Common Christmas Accidents: Prevention and Recovery at El Paso Back Clinic®

The Christmas season fills homes with lights, laughter, and loved ones. But it can also bring unexpected risks. From slips on icy paths to burns in the kitchen, holiday accidents happen more often than you might think. In El Paso, Texas, where winter weather can mix with the festive rush, these issues send many seeking help. Distracted or drunk driving spikes too, making roads risky. At El Paso Back Clinic®, we focus on wellness chiropractic care to help you prevent and heal from these mishaps. This article explains common Christmas accidents, their causes, and tips for prevention. It also shows how our integrative approach, led by Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, offers holistic recovery. Using spinal adjustments, massage, nutritional guidance, and NP-partnered care, we support your body’s natural healing to help you have a pain-free holiday.

Common Christmas Holiday Accidents at El Paso Back Clinic®

At our clinic in El Paso, TX, we see a rise in holiday-related injuries each year. These range from home mishaps to road incidents. Here’s a list of the most common ones we treat.

• Falls: Decorating ladders or icy El Paso sidewalks leads to slips. These cause sprains, fractures, or head trauma. Nationwide, about 160 decorating falls occur daily, accounting for half of decorating injuries. Kids might tumble from unstable trees or during outdoor fun.
• Fires: Faulty lights, dry trees, or candles spark fires. In homes across Texas, Christmas tree fires average 155 per year, causing injuries and property damage. We advise checking decorations to avoid these dangers.
• Burns: Holiday cooking with hot oil or deep fryers can result in scalds. Touching lit decorations adds risk. Turkey fryers alone cause 5 deaths and 60 injuries annually. Even hot foods like fried treats can burn mouths.
• Cuts: Knife slips while wrapping or carving happen often. Broken glass ornaments or toy packaging lead to ER visits – about 6,000 yearly for gift-opening cuts.
• Strains: Lifting decorations, gifts, or snow strains muscles. Back issues account for 15% of holiday accidents, and 11,500 ER visits are due to shoveling. In El Paso, our patients often come in after heavy lifting.
• Alcohol-Related Incidents: Festive drinks cause falls or “holiday heart” – heart rhythm problems from overdrinking. This leads to dizziness and more.
• Food Poisoning: Rushed meals with undercooked food or leftovers breed bacteria. About 48 million cases occur in the U.S. each year, peaking during holidays.
• Injuries Related to Toys and Gifts: Choking on small parts injures 251,700 kids yearly. Faulty gifts cause cuts or trips.
• Distracted or Drunk Driving: Busy El Paso roads see more crashes from texting or drinking. Drunk driving deaths rose to 1,013 in December 2021.

These issues increase ER visits by 5-12% in the U.S. and by over 80,000 in the UK during festivities. At El Paso Back Clinic®, we help locals recover quickly.

Causes of Holiday Injuries Seen at Our Clinic

Many injuries stem from everyday tasks gone wrong. To stop recurrences, we at El Paso Back Clinic® pinpoint these causes.

• Overexertion: Heavy lifting, like trees or bags, strains backs. Bending incorrectly causes 80% of lower back pain. Travel luggage accounts for 72,000 doctor visits each year.
• Cooking: Burns from oils or knives in busy kitchens. One in ten child injuries comes from cooking. Grease fires are frequent.
• Decorating: Ladder falls, electrical shocks, or ornament cuts. Decorating sends 13,000 to ERs yearly. Cord trips cause 2,000 injuries.
• Accidents on the Road or at Home: Distracted driving in El Paso’s traffic or at home. Stress slows reflexes.

Winter sports add 186,000 injuries, though they are less common here. Plants like mistletoe can poison if eaten.

Prevention Tips from El Paso Back Clinic®

Prevent accidents with simple steps. Our team at El Paso Back Clinic® shares these to keep your holidays safe.

• For Falls: Use stable ladders and salt icy paths. Get help when climbing.
• For Fires and Burns: Inspect wires, water trees, and use LED candles. Watch stoves closely.
• For Cuts and Strains: Cut safely and lift with your knees. Team up for heavy items.
• For Alcohol and Driving: Designate a driver or use a ride. Drink moderately.
• For Food and Toys: Cook thoroughly and chill food fast. Pick safe, age-appropriate toys.

Keep a first aid kit handy and manage stress. Visit us for pre-holiday check-ups.

How Integrative Chiropractic Care at El Paso Back Clinic® Helps

If injured, turn to El Paso Back Clinic® for natural healing. Our integrative chiropractic care, in partnership with NPs, treats the whole person. Dr. Alexander Jimenez, with over 30 years in El Paso, observes that holiday injuries often stem from poor posture or stress, leading to misalignment of the spine. We use non-invasive techniques to ease pain without meds or surgery.

• Adjustments for Spinal and Joint Pain: Realign the spine to relieve strain from falls or lifts. This boosts movement and cuts swelling.
• Massage and Physiotherapy for Muscle Problems: Ease tension from overwork. Improves circulation for faster recovery.
• NP-Led Care for Holistic Wellness: Our NPs manage overall health, including burn care and effects of poisoning, with a natural focus.
• Nutrition Guidance: Counter rich holiday foods with diet tips to aid digestion and immunity. Fiber-rich choices help.
• Managing Underlying Conditions: Reduce stress hormones for better sleep and mood. Prevents further harm.

Dr. Jimenez’s team uses functional medicine to develop personalized plans that address issues like sciatica from slips. Chiropractic enhances the nervous system for better health during the holidays.

Enjoy a Healthy Holiday with El Paso Back Clinic®

Make Christmas memorable for the right reasons. Know the risks, prevent them, and seek our care if needed. At El Paso Back Clinic®, we’re here for your wellness. Contact us in El Paso, TX, for expert chiropractic support. Happy holidays!

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