RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

December 21, 2004
DON’T BE THE ONE HAVING A BLUNDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME

Rushing to open presents, problems with putting toys together, trailing cables from new electrical goods and kitchen disasters will help to send more than 6,000 people to hospital on Christmas Day, RoSPA revealed today.

In all, more than 80,000 people are expected to turn up at A&E departments after accidents at home during the 12 days of Christmas.

Typical Christmas Day accidents, which have sent people to hospital, include:

• Parents stabbing themselves with scissors they’ve grabbed instead of screwdrivers to assemble toys
• People cutting themselves with knives they are using to open presents too quickly
• Children falling off rocking horses or smashing new bikes into walls
• Tripping over toys and trailing cables in the rush to try out new computers and other appliances
• Gravy exploding in microwave ovens, hot fat spilled on the cook trying to grapple with a big turkey and nasty cuts when chopping piles of vegetables
• Tipsy party guests toppling down stairs or crashing to the floor when they miss their seat at the dinner table

Other mishaps around Christmas time include: about 1,000 people going to hospital after accidents with Christmas trees; another 1,000 hurt by trimmings or when decorating their homes; and 350 hurt by Christmas tree lights - some people fall while putting them up, children swallow the bulbs and others get electric shocks and burns from faulty lights.

David Jenkins, RoSPA Product Safety Adviser, said: “One of the good things about Christmas is that there are often more people around to supervise the children, but the thrill of Christmas can lead to accidents. In the excitement, people use knives instead of scissors to cut through packaging or leave cables trailing across the room because they want to check if their new computer or appliance is working.

“Kitchens can be dangerous places with hot fat, boiling water and sharp knives around. Spills should be wiped up quickly and great care needs to be taken when getting the turkey out of the oven. With a little more care most accidents would not happen and Christmas celebrations needn’t be spoiled by a trip to hospital.”