Accident prone: Common holiday accidents

The holiday season brings together the things most likely to cause injuries: open flames, crowded kitchens, ladders, cold temperatures, and rushed travel. Emergency departments and urgent care centers consistently see spikes in certain types of injuries from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. Understanding which risks are highest — and what warning signs mean you need care — can help you stay safe and know when to get help.

Cooking fires and turkey fryer burns

Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home cooking fires in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Turkey fryers pose a particularly serious risk: the oil used for deep-frying can reach 350 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature capable of causing third-degree burns in seconds. The NFPA estimates that deep fryer fires cause an average of five deaths, 60 injuries, and more than $15 million in property damage annually. Burn injuries — both from cooking fires and scalding from hot liquids — send over 100,000 people to medical facilities for treatment each year. If you or someone in your household sustains a burn that blisters, covers a significant area, or involves the hands, face, or joints, seek immediate medical care.

Holiday decoration injuries and falls

Roughly 13,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for injuries related to holiday decorating, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Nearly half of those injuries involve falls — about 5,800 incidents occur when people fall while hanging lights, placing ornaments, or climbing ladders to reach high spaces. Extension cords create a separate hazard throughout the season: approximately 2,000 people are treated annually for lacerations, sprains, and other injuries caused by tripping over them. When using a ladder for decorating, always have a second person present and keep both feet on the rungs — never stand on the top two steps.

Holiday fire hazards: candles and Christmas trees

Candles account for 13 percent of home fires during December, a month that is consistently among the leading months for residential fires nationwide. Christmas trees add to that risk: according to NFPA research, roughly half of all Christmas tree fires occur between December 22 and early January, the period when trees are driest. Most tree fires begin with electrical problems — faulty light strings, overloaded outlets, or lights left on overnight. The fix is straightforward: use tested, listed lights, turn them off when you go to bed, and water your tree daily to slow drying. Never place candles near a tree, curtains, or other flammable material.

Food safety during the holidays

One in six Americans suffers from a foodborne illness each year, and holiday gatherings create the conditions for it: large quantities of food prepared in advance, dishes left at room temperature for extended periods, and unfamiliar kitchen routines. Turkey handling is a leading source of holiday food poisoning. Thawing a turkey at room temperature or in standing water allows bacteria to multiply rapidly on the outer surface while the interior remains frozen. The safe methods are refrigerator thawing (allow 24 hours per 4–5 pounds of turkey), cold water thawing with water changes every 30 minutes, or thawing in the microwave followed by immediate cooking. Symptoms of foodborne illness — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramping — typically appear within hours to days of exposure and usually resolve on their own, though severe dehydration or high fever warrants a visit to urgent care.

Cold weather, travel, and seasonal illness

Hypothermia can develop at air temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly when combined with wind, rain, or wet clothing. Early signs include intense shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and drowsiness. If you suspect hypothermia, move the person indoors, remove wet clothing, and apply warm — not hot — blankets. Call 911 for severe cases.

Space heaters cause about 1,062 injuries each winter, most involving burns from contact with the heating element or fires started when heaters are placed too close to furniture or bedding. Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything flammable, and never leave them running unattended.

Holiday travel adds another layer of physical strain. Over 55,000 people sustain back, neck, and shoulder injuries each year from carrying luggage — use wheeled bags where possible and lift with your legs, not your back. And travel concentrates another risk: flu. Up to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets influenza each year, with flu season typically peaking between December and February. Getting vaccinated before the holidays is the most effective protective measure.

When to visit urgent care

Most holiday injuries and illnesses can be evaluated and treated at an urgent care center without a trip to the emergency room. Urgent care is appropriate for minor burns, lacerations that need stitches, sprains and strains, mild symptoms of food poisoning, and respiratory illnesses including flu. Search for urgent care near you on Solv to find a clinic with same-day availability — and check in online before you leave home to reduce wait time. If you experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, a deep burn covering a large area, signs of hypothermia, or any rapidly worsening condition, go to the nearest emergency room.