The holidays are supposed to be busy in a good way — full calendars, full plates and full houses. But every year, emergency rooms fill up too. Slips on icy steps. Kitchen cuts. Chest pain after one too many indulgent meals. Many of these visits are preventable with some caution and planning.
“During the holidays, we see a predictable increase in ER visits related to accidents, overexertion and stress,” says Steven Valassis, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Hartford HealthCare St. Vincent Medical Center. “A little awareness goes a long way in keeping people safe and out of the hospital.”
>> Here are 10 simple, realistic ways to protect your health and avoid the ER this holiday season.
