Managing minor injuries at home this festive season

The Christmas season is a time for joy, family gatherings, and culinary delights. However, with all the hustle and bustle, injuries and health incidents can occur. Knowing basic first aid can help ensure minor mishaps do not turn into major issues. Below are practical first-aid tips for common injuries that may arise during the festive season.

Burns 

With festive feasts being prepared, accidental burns are a frequent occurrence. They can occur from candles, fireworks, or hot cooking oil. If you or a loved one gets a burn or scald, run cool water over the area for 10-15 minutes.

Next cover the burn using a clean, non-stick dressing or cloth. Avoid ointments and ice as they can worsen the injury.

For pain relief, Dr Fahad Mpaga, a medical officer advises that you can use over-the-counter pain relievers but seek medical attention for burns larger than the size of the victim's palm, those involving the face, hands, or genitals, or if blisters form. Be more careful about burns by keeping pot handles turned inward, use oven mitts, and keep children away from hot surfaces.

Cuts and scrapes

These are a common occurrence but may be more pronounced during the festive season as people prepare meals, opening presents or even do the Christmas decoration. When you get a cut, it is important that you stop bleeding immediately by applying firm pressure with a clean cloth or bandage.

Mpaga says, “When the bleeding stops, clean the wound with clean running water to remove debris. Use an antiseptic to kill the germs that may be around the wound but avoid harsh antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide, which may irritate tissue. Cover the wound using a sterile dressing or bandage to protect it. If the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure or if the cut is deep, jagged, or infected, seek medical care.”

Use sharp knives carefully and always cut away from your body.

Bloating

Bloating is a common discomfort during the festive season, often caused by overeating or consuming foods that are gas-inducing, says Amanda Twebaze, a nutritionist at Human Mechanic Clinic.

If you get bloating, a light walk can aid digestion and help release trapped gas. Sip warm water or herbal tea: Ginger or peppermint tea can help ease discomfort.

Twebaze says, “Avoid lying down immediately: Wait at least 2-3 hours after eating before reclining. Over-the-counter remedies: Antacids can provide relief if dietary measures do not work. Seek medical attention if bloating is accompanied by severe pain, vomiting, or fever.”

Practice portion control and stay hydrated to avoid bloating.

Choking

With the abundance of food during the festive season, choking hazards are a real concern, particularly for children or the elderly.

The first aid for choking is to encourage coughing especially if the person can breathe. Forceful coughing can help to expel the object.

Dr Mabike says, “If coughing fails, use the Heimlich maneuver by standing behind the person. Wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place it just above their navel. Grasp the fist with your other hand and deliver quick, upward thrusts until the object is expelled.”

For infants under one year, lay the baby face down on your forearm. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades. If unsuccessful, turn the baby over and give 5 chest thrusts using two fingers. If the person becomes unresponsive, seek immediate medical attention.

To prevent cocking, cut food into small, manageable pieces, especially for children and the elderly.

Fainting

Crowded, warm environments, dehydration, or overexertion can cause fainting episodes. If a person faints, lay the person down positioning them on their back and elevate their legs to improve blood flow to the brain.

Remember to loosen tight clothing and ensure they have access to fresh air. If they regain consciousness and seem stable, offer water to help them rehydrate.

Dr Mabike says, “Check responsiveness and if they do not regain consciousness within 1-2 minutes, this may be cause for worry. Also, if fainting is accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, or prolonged unconsciousness, seek immediate medical attention.”

Stay hydrated, take breaks from physical activity, and avoid overly crowded or hot areas to prevent fainting. 

The festive season should be a time for celebration, not hospital visits. By equipping yourself with these simple first-aid tips, you can respond effectively to common injuries, ensuring that your Christmas celebrations are safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning is a common occurrence during the festive season and it commonly affects pregnant women, infants, elderly individuals, or people with weakened immune systems.

According to Dr Simon Mabike, a general physician, during the Christmas celebrations, food is often prepared in large quantities, increasing the chances of mishandling or contamination. If food is left unrefrigerated for long periods, it creates a breeding ground for bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.

“Buffets with multiple dishes increase the risk of cross-contamination. The rush to prepare multiple meals can lead to undercooked meats or improperly heated leftovers. Foods like mayonnaise-based salads, dairy desserts, and seafood are more likely to spoil quickly,” he says.

Food poisoning can result from cross-contamination, handling food with dirty hands and ingestion of foodstuffs with bacteria. When one gets food poisoning, the symptoms range from mild to severe and children are more susceptible to it although adults sometimes also do.

“One can develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and dehydration in prolonged cases. Although some cases of food poisoning can resolve on their own, one should see a general practitioner if the symptoms seem severe with dehydration, says Dr Mabike.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms such as dark urine, extreme thirst, dry mouth, or dizziness, a high fever, blood in stool or vomit, diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than two days in adults or one day in children, blurred vision, difficulty speaking, or weakness.

When you get food poisoning, drink plenty of water or oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Resting helps the body to recover from the strain of dehydration and toxin elimination.

Stick to bland, easy-to-digest foods like rice, bananas, or toast once nausea subsides. If you have eaten contaminated food, avoid inducing vomiting as it can worsen dehydration and discomfort.

To prevent food poisoning, store food at safe temperatures, practice good hygiene, and avoid consuming questionable or improperly stored dishes.

Best food storage to avoid cross contamination

During this festive season, knowing where to store your food at home could save you from unnecessary expenses but most importantly, food poisoning.

Twebaze remarks that one of the most important rules is keeping different categories of foods in their compartments especially if they are in the fridge because this helps prevent cross contamination. “Isolation of food items is very important. For instance, fruits and vegetables, animal and plant foods should be isolated in different compartments to avoid cross contamination.”