Accident Prone: Common Holiday Accidents [INFOGRAPHIC]

It's November, which means the holiday season is nearly here. With all the joy and family gatherings the holidays bring comes injuries and illness, too. Keep your family healthy this year by understanding - and avoiding - the most common holiday accidents. But if you find yourself needing medical attention, find a nearby urgent care center to get the help you need.

Related: Visiting Grandparents During COVID-19 Holidays

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The Most Common Holiday Accidents

• The average temperature of oil used in a turkey fryer can reach 350 degrees, which can lead to 3rd degree burns. [1] [2] [3]
• 13,000 people are seen each year for accidents related to holiday decorations. [4]
• 5,800 accidents occur when people fall putting up decorations during the holiday season. [5]
• About 2,000 people every winter are treated for lacerations, sprains, and more due to tripping over extension cords. [6]
• 50% of Christmas tree fires happen between December 22 through January 5, due to faulty lights, candle decorations, and more. [11]
• 1 in 6 Americans suffer from food-borne illnesses each year. [7] [8]
• Thawing a turkey in an uncontrolled environment can lead to illness. [9]
• Candle-started fires make up 13% of home fires each December [10]
• Over 100,000 people are treated for scalding accidents per year. [12]
• About 1,062 injuries are due to space heaters each winter. [11]
• Hypothermia can occur at cold temperatures of 40 degrees Farenheit or colder [13]
• Over 55,000 people sustain injuries to back, neck, and shoulders each year due to carrying luggage. [14]
• Up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year, which begins in the fall and peaks around January or February. [15] [16]

Sources:

1. http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/causes/cooking/turkey-fryers [1]
2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/21/serafino-alfe-sustains-th_n_1105799.html [2]
3. http://www.nfpa.org/research/statistical-reports/major-causes/cooking-equipment [3]
4. http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2012/Holiday-Safety-Alert-Consumer-Injuries-Involving-... [4]
5. http://www.esfi.org/index.cfm/pid/11996 [5]
6. http://esfi.org/index.cfm/pid/11996 [6]
7. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/thanksgiving-avoid-horror-story/story?id=17776559 [7]
8. http://www.cdc.gov/features/foodcore/index.html [8]
9. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-s... [9]
10. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/candle.shtm [10]
11. http://www.esfi.org/index.cfm/cdid/13177/pid/10272 [11]
12. http://www.esfi.org/index.cfm/page/Injury-and-Fatality-Statistics/pid/12015 [12]
13. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/pdf/extreme-cold-guide.pdf [13]
14. http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/3638-holidays-can-be-health-hazard.html [14]
15. http://www.emergencycareforyou.org/YourHealth/HolidayAndSeasonal/Default.aspx?id=34200 [15]
16. http://www.flu.gov/about_the_flu/seasonal/ [16]