The pots are on the stove, the oysters are waiting in the fridge, the table is beautifully set, the presents are under the tree… the Christmas spirit is more and more present. But be careful, the festivities can bring their share of domestic accidents. Professor Christian Virenque, specialist in emergency medicine, takes stock of the health problems that most frequently spoil the party at Christmas.
Why doctor: What are the domestic accidents or health problems most frequently treated by emergency doctors during the Christmas period?
Professor Christian Virenque : One of the specific lesions of Christmas or New Year is the cut when opening the oysters. We mishandle the knife and injure our hands. This generates a large flow of more or less serious injuries into hospitals during the holiday period each year. It’s the classic of classics. He also has burns while cooking, falls and even trauma.
We must also not forget illnesses and disturbances of a medical nature such as food allergies, particularly shellfish. These festive foods are the cause of many incidents during meals. There may also be diabetes imbalances that lead to discomfort. Gastronomic excesses and the holiday spirit are likely to lead to being less vigilant regarding treatments or the recommendations given by the doctor. Which can cause significant problems.
Finally, the common cause of these injuries, lesions and disorders is the sudden and unexpected loss of good health which occurs during the holiday season, and which requires the use of emergency services.
We must also pay attention to socio-psychological distress. Santa Claus is trash, remember? It’s very real. The holiday season can be really difficult for some people. It can accentuate depressive states and lead to suicidal thoughts. It’s necessary to be vigilant.
Noël: “after an accident or feeling unwell, I advise calling for emergency medical help if you have the slightest doubt”
Are there any particular risks associated with children?
Everyday life accidents (which include domestic accidents, sports and leisure accidents as well as those which occur at school, Editor’s note) are the leading cause of death in France among children under 15 years old. They are important in their frequency and severity. And like everything else of the year, Christmas is no exception. The biggest dangers for children are in the kitchen with burns. They can be quite severe.
A Christmas in the emergency room can frighten many people and make them hesitate to consult. How do you know if your injury requires going to the hospital?
After an accident or feeling unwell, I advise calling emergency medical help, i.e. Samu, if you have the slightest doubt. By calling 15, you have a doctor on the phone. After you explain your situation to him, he will evaluate the most appropriate response. This can be simple advice such as telemedicine or sending you help (ambulance, fire or emergency services). More than ever at this time when hospitals are experiencing significant tension, it is particularly recommended to use emergency numbers.
Discomfort at Christmas: “there is an essential maneuver to do: the lateral safety position”
What are the good reflexes to have after a domestic accident?
There are several fundamental actions to take while waiting for help. In the event of a cut, for example when opening oysters, a tourniquet or pressure bandage must be applied.
As soon as there is a state of relative unconsciousness, the person is not in a state of normal consciousness and there is a risk of vomiting, there is an essential preventative maneuver to be made – but unfortunately relatively poorly understood. of the public – it is about the side safety position. The patient is placed on their side: this prevents the contents of the stomach from entering the airways and causing asphyxiation if the person vomits. It’s an easy move to learn and practice. It is recommended whatever the cause of unconsciousness: excessive drinking, seizure, traumatic loss of consciousness, etc.
Regarding thermal burns, what makes them serious is the intensity of the heat that was applied to the skin. The most important thing is to cool the lesion by applying cold, for example a bag with ice cubes. However, be careful, thermal stress triggers lesions on the skin which will progress. This worsening phenomenon is not well known. To avoid this, cooling must be prolonged. It is therefore essential to maintain the pocket, even when the pain is reduced. This makes it possible to avoid the anatomical evolution of the burn towards the deeper planes, especially if it is a burn on the 2e or 3e degree.
Emergency: “My health space really saves doctors precious time”
Do you have any advice for simplifying or streamlining your trip to the emergency room?
Taking the vital card seems essential to me. But, it is true that with stress, fear or pain, we don’t always think about it. My health space is therefore an essential tool for me. I advise everyone to create it.
This is a secure computerized medical record, offered by Health Insurance and the Ministry of Health. It allows you to store your documents and health data in complete confidentiality. It updates automatically every time you consult or go to the pharmacy. So, if you go to the emergency room and you are unconscious or unable to speak with the doctors, health professionals will be able to have essential information such as your history, the treatments you are taking, your previous hospitalizations. It is a fundamental resource for emergency physicians.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of its existence, others refuse to use it for fear of loss of confidentiality. But there is no risk and it really saves doctors very valuable time. Sometimes there are patients who have a lot of medical history, illnesses, or treatments that, if not known, can cause complications. I firmly defend this digital medical record, because in an emergency, it is irreplaceable, especially in complicated cases.
