'Tis the season for overindulgence, alcohol-induced heat stroke and more than the usual amount of little kids with things stuck up their noses - just ask Dr Rik Wheatley.
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The veteran medico, who has has spent 21 years working in hospitals, mostly within Australian emergency departments, says the region's ED staff try to make Christmas day pleasant for each other and patients, since "everyone is missing family and friends and no one really wants to be there".
Dr Wheatley, acting director of Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, has some tips for anyone looking to avoid the ED these holidays: avoid overindulging in food and alcohol, watch out for sunburn, swim between the flags and stay hydrated.
When it comes to what's under the tree on December 25, here is Dr Wheatley's Christmas non-wish list for 2023.
- "Trampolines. With a net, with one child on it? A great toy. With eight kids of different sizes? Or no net, or not supervision? Lots of injuries - broken arms, broken legs, spinal injuries, neck injuries."
- COVID. "Don't' give your grandma COVID for Christmas. If you're having symptoms then have a RAT test and think about whether you should be visiting large numbers of your family.
- In a household that includes small children, "things with small beads". "There's swallowing, choking and getting stuck up the nose," he said. Children with nose blockages end up in the emergency department requiring a vacuum-style extraction or a balloon cathetar that is inserted up the nostril and inflated. "It's like a little fishing trip, but the child doesn't tend to enjoy it."
- Toys requiring button batteries. "You've got to make sure that they're screwed in properly and they're kept away from kids. The issue there is if the child swallows one of the batteries, it can cause a kind of internal burn. They can require surgery to remove it."
- Food poisoning. "Don't give each other food poisoning for Christmas. Make sure items are refrigerated or reheated appropriately. Normally a few days after Christmas you'll get a spike in food poisoning cases because it's hot, people eat leftovers, people don't store things appropriately".
Hospitals within the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Southern NSW Local Health District will be open 24 hours a day to treat serious illness or injuries.
Dr Wheatley said that people presenting with less serious illnesses or injuries may be best served at GP clinics, urgent care centres, pharmacies or through healthdirect.gov.au.
"Thankyou to those staff who are serving the community and spending time away from their families to work this Christmas," he said.
Angela Thompson
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
