Reducing Stress – and Accidents – This Christmas

Christmas usually sees a flurry of activity. From getting things wrapped up at work to getting things – literally – wrapped up at home in time for the big day, there’s plenty to do.

However, this can also lead to higher stress levels, which can then increase the chances of an accident. This makes it important to take the time to breathe deeply and act carefully when it comes to certain activities to stay safe.

At work

As a lot of us will likely be spending the run-up to Christmas at work, we should ensure we’re still keeping on top of our safety. With so much going on – from Secret Santa to arranging the end-of-year party – there’s a host of potential distractions. And this can take our focus away from keeping ourselves safe at work.

That’s why it’s a good idea to do a quick risk assessment around this time of year and address any issues. Keep Christmas clutter out of the main working areas and stairwells. Make sure that these areas continue to be well lit and don’t trail the cables of any festive lighting through popular passageways. Keeping your workplace free of unnecessary obstacles is one of the simplest ways to avoid accidents at work.

Then, when it comes to the work Christmas party, don’t let yourself have too much fun. Driving while over the limit – even just slightly – increases the chances of a car accident. So stick to the soft stuff if you’re going to be behind the wheel and take it easy when you’re on the road.

In the car

Once you are behind the wheel, the festive period presents unique hazards. The weather is just one of them. From the low and blinding winter sun bouncing off rain and sleet-soaked roads to the uncontrollable skidding that can come with black ice, winter can throw up a host of challenges to drivers.

The flickering and flashing lights adorning people’s homes at this time of year can also be hugely distracting to drivers. Although you can’t demand that people remove them, if you can, try to avoid roads that are well-known for their Christmas decorations.

With everyone heading off to Christmas and New Year parties, you might be called in to play taxi driver for your loved ones at short notice. You might also find yourself having to pop to the shops on a more frequent basis. When you do, it’ll help to have your car well maintained to reduce the risk of a breakdown or a car accident at Christmas.

At home

Christmas Day can be one of the most stressful 24-hour periods of the year. You might find yourself cooking a huge meal for an extended family on less sleep than normal. This can leave you struggling to pay attention, making accidents more likely. To avoid doing more work than absolutely necessary on the day, prepare what you can the day and night before.

You’ll also want to make sure the toys you – or Father Christmas – leave under the tree are bought from reputable retailers and comply to UK safety standards. The last thing you want to have to deal with on Christmas Day is a faulty product accident.

Don’t forget to be careful and pay extra attention to where you step when taking to the great outdoors for the traditional Christmas Day stroll. Slips, trips and falls are the most common way of hurting yourself, so watch out for uneven pavements or icy patches on what should be one of the most relaxing parts of the day.

But if you’re as careful as you can be at Christmas and you still suffer an accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you could make a claim for compensation. Give us a call, request a call back or start your claim online to find out more.