Cooking Christmas dinner is the top cause of accidents in the home over the holidays, decorations, lights and toys also cause many mishaps.
A survey released this week has said 20 percent of British people will injure themselves just by cooking Christmas dinner. The survey from First4lawyers looked at the most common accidents taking place in the home at Christmas:
- Cooking Christmas dinner (20%)
- Cuts from broken tree ornaments (11%)
- Falls from ladders or roofs installing Christmas lights and decorations (11%)
- Tripping over fairy lights and cables (10%)
- Burns from candles (10%)
The survey added that other common injuries are caused by electric shocks (8%), setting up toys and games on Christmas Day (7%) and falling Christmas trees (4%). Alcohol, not surprisingly, was responsible for 80% of all injuries at Christmas.
It can be tough accessing healthcare in a foreign country, language barriers and unfamiliar systems often cause problems for expats. In addition, the Christmas period may mean reduced clinic hours and fewer staff working in hospitals. Medicare’s 24/7 Assistance Providers offer a multilingual service to answer customer calls and can advise on matters such as finding the nearest clinic or hospital.
Debbie Purser, managing director of Medicare International said, “For families in particular, just knowing how to get hold of an international doctor or an emergency A&E department can be a worry.”
Without proper insurance, medical costs can rapidly mount up. An ambulance trip in the USA can cost $1,000. Around the world, the average cost of a private in patient stay is around $7,500 or a broken ankle in Hong Kong could incur medical fees of $20,000.
There is a common misconception that travel insurance is enough for people living abroad for extended periods, this could prove costly when expats need treatment. Travel insurance is designed for short trips and covers emergency treatment. Expatriates should always make sure they have full international cover whether basic or comprehensive, it will save money and worry should you ever need medical attention.
Debbie Purser continued, “Treat yourself to a Christmas present this year and insure against any medical costs that you, or a member of your family, might incur from the most unlikely of accidents. This will give you peace of mind”