As is well known, most accidents happen at home. This is no different at Christmas either. But doctors warn of certain injuries that, according to studies, occur particularly frequently during the holidays. As the British Guardian reports, some people take the spirit of Christmas a little too literally, at least when it comes to sexual relationships.
According to a study by the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), the number of patients with a so-called “penile rupture”, colloquially a “penile fracture”, increases significantly during the Christmas holidays. This injury causes the corpora cavernosa or the surrounding membrane to tear. This is not a real “break”, but the pain is at least comparable. Nikolaos Pyrgides, urologist at LMU explains: “This injury often occurs during wild sex – especially in positions where you don’t have direct eye contact [with your partner].” The rupture is announced by a clear cracking sound, followed by severe pain, loss of erection, severe swelling and bruising. When patients see their doctor, their penis often looks like an eggplant, Pyrgides continued.
Hypothesizing that increased intimacy and euphoria during the holidays pose a higher risk of this type of injury, the scientists used hospital data to examine 3,421 cases of these “penile fractures” between 2005 and 2021 in Germany. According to the data collected, a seasonal pattern can be identified. However, there is a particular outlier at Christmas. “If every day was like Christmas, there would have been 43 percent more ‘penile fractures’ in Germany from 2005,” says Pyrgides.
The average age of patients with the injury is 42 years. “Most penile fractures happen in unconventional scenarios, such as extramarital affairs or having sex in unusual places,” says the urologist. He advises couples to be aware of the risk and exercise caution. “If it does happen, you should see your doctor as an absolute emergency because if you don’t get treatment, it could lead to long-term complications.”
But it’s not just increased intimacy that often leads to injuries at Christmas. Whether cooking or decorating, emergency rooms have their hands full during the holidays. According to a report by the British “Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents” (Rospa) and L’Oréal, around 1,000 people in Great Britain are injured by Christmas trees every year. A typical reason for this is chairs or ladders that are not stable enough and tip over while partygoers try to reach the highest branches of their Christmas tree.
But many injuries don’t just occur when decorating. Caution is advised even when digging out the Christmas decorations: A survey by the “National Accident Helpline” of 2,000 British people showed that around two percent of them had already injured themselves while trying to get the Christmas decorations out of the attic and, for example, had fallen down a flight of stairs be.
You should also be particularly careful with electronics – especially near water. According to another Rospa study, 350 people in the UK suffer injuries from fairy lights every year. Between 1997 and 2010, 26 people suffered an electric shock while watering their Christmas tree with the lights on.
Of course, Christmas can be celebrated extensively. But doctors also warn when it comes to literally “popping the cork”: a champagne bottle is under high pressure – two to three times as high as that in a car tire. If it is opened, the cork can shoot out at up to 50 kilometers per hour. If such a cork hits a person in the eye, the eyeball can tear or the retina can detach, according to the Guardian.
You should also pay particular attention to children at Christmas. According to a US analysis, between 1997 and 2015, 22,224 children in the United States were hospitalized because they swallowed small parts, such as small Christmas tree baubles. Button cell batteries are particularly dangerous in this context. They react with saliva – caustic soda is formed, which can burn the mouth and stomach.
It is therefore relatively safe for children to visit Santa Claus. According to a study from the USA, three children were injured between 2007 and 2016 when they fell from Santa’s lap and had to be treated in the emergency room, but when calculated for the total population, this would mean a small number of 277 Santa Claus-related injuries.
Heart disease is particularly common at Christmas. Deaths from heart disease reach an annual peak around Christmas and New Year, according to a US study. Researchers believe this is not primarily due to holiday excitement, but may be due to delays in treatment.
Quellen: Studie (“British Journal of Urology International”), The Guardian, National Accident Helpline, Neiss Data
