Published: 5th December 2025.
Last updated: 5th December 2025.
Author: Cara Sherratt.

 

 

Hailed as the most wonderful time of the year, the festive period brings with it a set of unique accidents and injuries that can make our hospitals and emergency services the busiest time of the year. According to NHS England data, there is a noticeable increase in A&E visits on and around Christmas Day. With some hospitals reporting between 10% and 20% more attendances than usual during this period.

During the festive period alone, more than 80,000 people attend A&E in hospitals across the UK, with up to 6,000 people being admitted due to a range of reasons often including domestic accidents, cooking mishaps and seasonal illnesses.

Festive activities paired with pints of festive cheer can quickly turn hazardous, leading to a surge in injuries that require hospital attention. Common reasons for A&E visits during the holidays include falls while decorating, burns and scalds from hot ovens, cuts from kitchen knives or broken glass, electric shocks from faulty lights, and alcohol-related injuries or intoxication. Not to mention the increased risk of food poisoning from improperly cooked or stored meals, a particularly common issue during the holiday feast – you were right not to trust Aunt Julie’s pigs in blankets.

Additionally, while GP surgeries reduce their hours over the festive periods, our hospitals and emergency services bear the brunt of the strain for treating accidents and injuries caused during this busy time of year. People are more likely to seek care through emergency departments, even for non-urgent issues, which could be treated by a qualified first aider.

While the holidays are meant to be joyful, it’s clear that a little extra caution can go a long way, as well as learning the facts about the dangers that can be lurking behind every Christmas party, tree decoration and present-buying outing. Remember to always approach potentially hazardous tasks with caution and understand how an increase in stress over the festive period can affect task performance. With research by National Accident Helpline showing that 1 in 4 (27%) feel more stressed than usual during the festive period, it goes a long way to stay calm, approach tasks with care and ensure you have someone certified in first aid, to patch up any accidents that may happen along the way.

But do you know what to look out for around the festive period to avoid becoming one of the many people that suffer injuries from fairy lights, trees or turkeys? Read more to find out.

 

Deck The Halls, But Safely

• It is reported that tree-related accidents account for over 1,000 injuries annually, according to RoSpa. From falls that occur while decorating, to mishaps while setting up decorative lights, ensure you take care when placing the star at the top of the tree this year.
  
  
• Approximately 350 people every year suffer injury from fairy-light related incidents. Beware of faulty bulbs, bad wiring, cheap products or overloaded sockets to avoid receiving nasty shocks or burns this festive period. Keep your eyes on small children to avoid bulb ingestion and clear wires to avoid tripping hazards.
  
  
• Take great care when decorating your trees, carefully retrieve your Christmas stash of baubles from the loft to avoid falls, and keep your eye on pets and children to minimise the risk of choking, as baubles have been reported to increase choking incidents.

 

Maintain Kitchen Standards or Yule Be Sorry

Hosting the family and cooking the perfect Christmas dinner can leave some people feeling more stressed than usual, with more than 1 in 10 women (13%) and only 6% of men feeling the pressure when cooking. With an increase in intensity in the kitchen, accidents are usually not far behind.

• Nearly 50% of people cooking Christmas dinner report having had some accident while preparing food.
• This includes up to 18% of people claiming they have received cuts to themselves while chopping vegetables and a further 11% suffering burns from hot fat. Damn those crispy potatoes.
• The humble Christmas pudding is no innocent here either, with 1 in 10 people admitting to burning themselves when lighting the traditional dessert.
  
  
• Burns also occur from roasting chestnuts and other festive cooking, as we all race to feed hungry visiting relatives. Around 600,000 people report minor burns during the festive season.
  
  

Whether you host a potluck with questionable guests, or Uncle Dave brings along his signature smoked salmon that has been kept at room temperature for his five-hour drive to Christmas dinner, cases of food poisoning remain rife in the festive season.

• There are approximately 2.4 million food poisoning cases in the UK annually, with new Food Standards Agency (FSA) research even revealing that nearly half (46%) of Christmas cooks don’t always check use-by dates before cooking or preparing food at home.
  
  
• Additionally, a further 39% of Christmas cooks admit that they occasionally cook raw meat, such as turkey or sausages, past its use-by date, potentially placing a huge risk on some more unsuspecting or vulnerable family members.

 

🎄 Fire & Candle Hazards

Fire incidents and burns can cause injury with a wide range of severity, but can easily be avoided in some situations. Undertake at-home risk assessments such as ensuring the placement of cards and wrapping paper are kept clear of open flames and not leaving candles unattended.

The chance of having a house fire is about 50% higher at Christmas than during any other time of year according to the Wiltshire Times, so if you want to ensure Christmas doesn’t burn through more than just a hole in your pocket, take proper precautions when lighting fires or candles around the home.

Always remember, electricity and water do not mix! Statistics show that between 1997–2010, there have been 31 deaths linked to watering Christmas trees with lights plugged in. We would recommend avoiding this.

 

Statistics That Are Claus for Concern

• Around 700,000 injuries occur during post-Christmas shopping rushes.

• Roughly 2.6 million people report falling off ladders or stools decorating their homes during the season.

• Eye injuries from party items such as exploded corks are not uncommon. One study cited 144 significant eye injuries annually from festive causes.
  
  
• Accidents related to festive packaging, including careless scissor use, send about 27% of people to A&E around Christmas, so pack those presents with precision!
  
  

Having a certified first aider present at your Christmas events mean that a proportion of the common Christmas injuries that may otherwise rely on precious, busy, hospital and emergency services resources could in fact be treated at home if not serious or life-threatening. Ensure that before the Christmas period enters full swing, your first aid supplies are in stock and have not passed “use-by” dates.

If you haven’t already, be the star at the top of the tree this Christmas by gaining first aid certification, or by renewing your skills and taking your First Aid Requalification to ensure you play your part in keeping the festive cheer going.

 

Sources
Havering Directory,First Aid for Life,National Accident Helpline (1), National Accident Helpline (2), Online First Aid, Cumberland Council, The Independent, Wiltshire Times, Ajuda, The Sun, The Irish Times