The Most Common New Year’s Injuries

While we all wish each other a “Happy New Year,” many people unfortunately start the year on a very unhappy note. Hospital staff throughout the Atlanta area can tell you that accidental injuries are all too common at the beginning of every new year.

There is no way to predict precisely what the most significant problems will be this year, but based on previous years, we’ve compiled a description of some of the most common New Year’s injuries. If you’re aware of the added risks this time of year, you can take extra precautions to keep yourself safe. 

Of course, you can’t force others to make safe choices, and if you’re injured because of someone else’s irresponsible behavior, our team is always ready to help you recover the resources you need to move forward. But we hope we won’t have to hear from you in the new year! Below we’ve listed some situations where you need to be extra vigilant to avoid frequent New Year’s injuries.

Celebrating with Gunpowder

It’s a tradition to welcome the new year with a bang. The tradition dates back thousands of years. For instance, the ancient Celts would bang pots at midnight, hoping the noise would frighten off evil spirits. But some of the most popular modern celebrations trace their origins back to the Chinese and their invention of gunpowder.

Some people shoot off fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Others fire guns and other weapons. Some families combine the two traditions by shooting at explosive mixtures like C-4s to set them off. The explosive celebrations can be a lot of fun—if no one gets hurt.

Unfortunately, injuries are common. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that last year, nearly 15,000 people were injured by fireworks. And this figure does not include injuries caused by other uses of gunpowder.

When shooting off fireworks or engaging in any activity involving combustion, it is vital to understand the risks and respect the dangers. Just as you would designate a driver to remain sober if you were driving to a bar, it is wise to designate a knowledgeable person to take charge of explosives and remain sober until all the firing is done. Plan ahead and establish a firing area that is away from people. 

In addition, it is important to follow all instructions, keep water nearby, and keep dangerous items away from children. You know those sparklers we give our kids as a “safe” form of fire? They operate at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and can melt metal. Keep them out of the hands of children until they are mature enough to comprehend the danger.

Celebrating with Alcohol

Some habitual drinkers refer to New Year’s Eve as “Amateur Night.” People who are not interested in drinking any other time of the year often feel the compulsion to indulge around the holidays, especially New Year’s. Moreover, people who drink regularly also tend to consume more than usual during the holiday season, and New Year’s is the final hurrah.

Alcohol consumption can lead to injuries in numerous ways. In addition to the car accidents caused by drinking and driving, people suffer injuries due to:

• Walking in or near traffic while their judgment is impaired
• Losing balance and falling, particularly on wet or slick surfaces
• Alcohol poisoning
• Assaults stemming from arguments involving intoxicated individuals

In addition, people simply make more mistakes when their judgment is impaired by alcohol, and this can cause harm to them or to others around them. For instance, people who take or dispense medication can get mixed up and give the incorrect dosage or the wrong medicine.

When another person’s careless actions cause injuries to you or a loved one, a personal injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for the harm you’ve endured. But it is better if you can avoid the injuries altogether by anticipating mistakes others might make.

Celebrating at Home

Going out to celebrate the end of the old year and the start of a new one is a tradition that many people prefer to skip. They feel safe and comfortable staying at home. But while staying home may be comfortable, it is not always safe. People who stay home for the holidays suffer injuries in a variety of ways, including:

• Falling from stepladders while hanging lights
• Injuring their back while carrying heavy boxes or bending to retrieve boxes from attics and basements
• Getting cut on broken decorations or while  preparing food, or cutting ribbon in a hurry
• Falling from chairs while reaching for items on high shelves
• Sufferingfrom intestinal ailments from food poisoning or overindulgence
• Getting burns or suffering smoke inhalation from fires triggered by holiday cooking or decorations

Believe it or not, even health crises such as heart attacks can increase over the holidays due to stressful interactions among family members. You can help protect yourself by taking frequent breaks and thinking before acting. Is there a better way to reach or move that box? Could someone else do it for you? Do you really need the special platter Aunt Martha brought back from Niagara Falls in 1968? Even if it’s a family tradition to eat off it on New Year’s Day, it’s not worth risking injury to get it out. If a situation is stressing your body or a person is stressing your emotions, a change of environment can make a difference.

When Injuries Catch You Off Guard, We Are Here to Help

It is not always obvious when you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence. For instance, a motorcycle can slide out of control not because of the rider’s error but because of debris improperly spilled in the road by a truck. Or someone could fall in a store, not because they are clumsy, but because the flooring is unsafe for visitors. If you or a loved one were injured in a situation that could have resulted from another person’s irresponsible choices, we invite you to call our team at 404-480-4284 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation.