Personal Injury Lawyers in DC, MD, & VA Advise
During the holiday season, our personal injury attorneys experience an increase in personal injury cases in the Virginia, DC, and Maryland area. Just as there are an increase in traffic accidents, there is also an increase in household injuries. Here are some tips to help stay safe this holiday season.
- Exercise caution when frying that turkey! Turkey fryers can reach 350 degrees and cause third degree burns. Always keep the fryers in open areas, not in garages or on decks. Keep them on a level surface away from tree branches. Use goggles and oven mitts, and never leave a fryer unattended.
- Flu season begins to hit in earnest in December, peaking in January and February. 20 percent of people will get the flu this year. If you begin to experience flu symptoms, such as fever, chills, a headache, or body aches, see your physician as soon as possible for treatment. Although there is no cure for the flu, early treatment with Tamiflu can lessen the severity.
- 13 percent of household fires in the month of December are caused by candles. Do not burn candles unattended, and trim wicks prior to use. Keep candles away from children and pets, and on a safe, open area.
- One in six people will experience food poisoning this year. Food poisoning can last from hours to as long as a week, and causes a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Do not eat meat or food that has been left out, and remember to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Thaw out turkey and other meat properly.
- 13,000 people receive medical attention from injuries sustained from holiday decorations each year. Falls from ladders and lacerations from broken ornaments make up the bulk of these injuries. Exercise caution when decorating both inside and out.
- Over 1,000 people are injured each year from space heaters. Be sure to use the appropriate size space heater for the room you are heating. Inspect the cord and make sure it is not damaged at all, and keep the space heater in an open area. Make sure that pets and children cannot get near it.
- Each year, almost 2,000 people are treated for injuries sustained when tripping over extension cords. Make sure that cords are kept out of the path of traffic, and only use them temporarily.
At Cohen & Cohen, we recognize that the safety of your family is your utmost priority. We wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. As always, know that if you are injured as a result of the negligence of others, our personal injury lawyers will make you our priority.
*Statistics courtesy of UrgentCareLocations.
