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You might think that carrying a flaming pudding to the table is an accident waiting to happen, especially for chefs who have big baggy sleeves (clearly don’t try this in a Santa costume). But reports suggest that the biggest risk is older folk, burning their puddings in the microwave.
7. Christmas pudding – choking
If you manage to escape terrible burns, there’s another hidden danger in plum puddings. A dental school once fed – as an experiment – 40 Christmas puddings to its students. Each pudding contained one silver coin.
According to the British Dental Journal, there were 23 injuries, including chipped teeth and broken fillings. Four of the coins were swallowed, and one student had to be treated for choking. If you must put coins in your pudding, make sure they’re big ones that are easy to spot.
8. Danger – gifts
A US survey once found that 538,000 people over 20 years were admitted to A&E with paper injuries. And late December is the most dangerous time of the year for this.
The survey, carried out by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, told how a young woman accidentally set light to wrapping paper with a candle while opening a gift. She tried to put the flames out with her hand, and regretted it.
One word from personal experience: don’t put wrapped chocolates under the tree. The dog will eat them, and you’ll have to call the vet.
9. Turkey terrors
Nearly half of Christmas cooks will have an accident, claims the National Accident Helpline. One in ten people have spilt hot fat on themselves, and one in five have cut themselves while preparing vegetables.
Eating the dinner can be just as dangerous. The Food Standards Agency warned earlier this week that stuffing turkeys before putting them in the oven means they might be undercooked, which could lead to salmonella poisoning.
10. Batteries
NHS doctors issued a Christmas warning last year about the dangers of batteries and other small objects. They reported that the number of children taken to hospital after swallowing objects had doubled over ten years.
11. The holly and the ivy
“Holly and mistletoe might seem festive and romantic, but they are highly poisonous,” warns First Aid for Life. “Their berries contain toxic proteins that slow the heart rate and can cause hallucinations.”
You might also find that soliciting for kisses under the mistletoe might result in sudden, sharp “slapping” pains to the cheek.
12. Stress and depression
Two in every five of us feels more stressed at Christmas time, reports YouGov, with one in four people reporting depression at this time of year.
Scientists are divided about the cause, but could it be the result of seasonal warnings about how dangerous everything is at this time of year?
Stay safe, everybody, and happy Christmas to you all.
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