Don’t spend Christmas in Emergency
This festive season, The Alfred emergency team is urging everyone to stay safe and avoid spending their holiday in the emergency department (ED).
Carl Luckhoff, Acting Director of Emergency at The Alfred, said ED presentations spiked by 10 per cent this time last year, with almost 2000 people needing emergency care in the 10-day period across Christmas and New Year.
“Our emergency and trauma team are well prepared for our busiest time of year, but we are urging everyone to spend their Christmas and New Year with their loved ones, not us,” Dr Luckhoff said.
“Last year, we treated hundreds of people in emergency suffering injuries and illness that could have been avoided, including a high number of patients involved in drug and alcohol abuse, car accidents, knife injuries and more.
“Please be careful, wherever you are this Christmas. We want you, your family and friends to have a safe and enjoyable holiday.”
Last year, the top 10 most common presentations (avoidable and non-avoidable) in The Alfred ED were:
- Falls
- Respiratory
- Chest Pain
- Other abdominal pain
- Drugs (legal & illicit)
- Alcohol
- Knife Injuries / lacerations
- Gastroenteritis
- Car Accident
- Cellulitis
- Arm, Wrist, Hand fractures
- Mental Illness
- Pedal bike/cycling
- Burns
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