News Release
21/12/2011

The last place anyone wants to spend the festive season is in an Emergency Department. Our top tips on aim to help keep you and your loved ones safe this Christmas and avoid needing a trip to hospital.

“I’m sure that no-body wants to spend any of the Christmas holidays in an Emergency Department and there are a number of small, simple things you can do to keep you and your loved ones safe,” said Dr Stuart Ward, medical director for the Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth PCT Cluster. “But if things do go wrong and you need treatment and advice there are a range of different services that can help which means we can keep the Emergency Department free for those that need the most urgent medical attention. NHS Direct, Minor Injuries Units, your GP and local pharmacist can all offer a wide range of help and support.”

Top tips this Christmas:

Do be careful if taking small children to a house that is not ‘child friendly’. Grandma and Grandpa may be used to keeping their prescription pills on the bedside table for convenience, but for small children that spells danger.

Do move household cleaning fluids – most of them are poisonous if drunk – that are often kept nice and handy under the sink at Granny’s.

Do take care in other people’s homes where the kids are a bit older than yours and might well have lots of attractive toys and games with plenty of small parts – just right for pushing up little noses, into little ears and down little throats. The consequences could be tragic.

Do make sure elderly relatives have enough light to see properly and avoid accidents – candlelight is romantic but means stray toys, family pets or slippy floors can become serious hazards when they can’t be seen.

Don’t panic – get advice during a bank holiday in the same way you would on an ordinary working day – by first of all ringing NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Don’t make someone sick if they have swallowed any nasty substance. If it’s corrosive on the way down, it will be corrosive on the way back up!

Don’t make a child sick if they have swallowed something like washing up liquid, shampoo or bubble bath. The substance could froth and get on to the lungs creating a much bigger problem.

Don’t use tourniquets if someone has a bad cut. Cover the wound with a non-fluffy towel and apply pressure.

Don’t at any cost put creams or (even worse) butter on a burn. Hold the burn under cold running water – which may mean standing in the shower for a widespread burn – and cover with cling-film. Much of the pain is caused by air passing over the raw nerves of burned skin – cling-film will stop that.

Don’t waste any time in calling for an ambulance if someone is seriously choking – you need to get help fast from someone trained in the right techniques.

Do use a simple pain remedy that you know suits you. People are frightened of taking anything before they get medical help but it is easier for the experts to make an assessment when the pain is under some degree of control.

Do make sure you defrost and cook your turkey properly to avoid any upset tummies and food poisoning.

Don’t – under any circumstances – drink and drive.

For details of healthcare options in Hampshire, please visit:

• NHS Southampton City – www.southamptonhealth.nhs.uk/treatment/
• NHS Hampshire – www.hampshire.nhs.uk/local-services/choose-well
• NHS Isle of Wight – www.iow.nhs.uk
•  NHS Portsmouth – www.portsmouth.nhs.uk/Your-Health/Choosewell

 http://www.southamptonhealth.nhs.uk