Nobody plans to suffer a fall around the holidays, but accidents happen. You slip on a buzz patch of ice on your way to a family get-together, or you miss a step on the way down a ladder. If you’re lucky, you can walk it off with only hurting your pride. But you can easily tweak your ankle, break your wrist, or hit your head.
These fall-related injuries spike during the holiday season. And while older adults are at greater risk, people of all ages can wind up in the emergency room after a fall. According to the CDC, roughly 62% of falls caused by holiday decorating were 20–49 years old.
An unexpected trip to the emergency room can throw your holiday plans into chaos not to mention your budget. At a time when everyone is spending a little bit more, you may not have any extra cash to spend on clinic charges, x-rays, or prescriptions.
So, what can you do? Keep reading to learn how to juggle disaster with holiday spending. But more importantly, check out the tips to keep you and your loved ones out of the hospital this season altogether.
Being Unprepared for a Fall-Related Accident
The holidays are no doubt some of the hardest times for your budget and that’s without a surprise visit to the ER. Between gifts, foods, and travel, you may have already used up savings or maxed out credit.
In an emergency, you don’t have time to check your budget to see how you can afford care without these typical safety nets. You are busy making sure you get treatment, so you might accept medical attention you can’t afford.
Luckily, there are online emergency loans that are designed just for these urgent situations. Many online direct lenders provide direct deposit loans to ensure the fastest delivery of your funds if you are approved, giving you the flexibility to pay you bill without delay.
To limit how much you have to borrow, ask the repair clinic or hospital for an itemized bill. This process forces the billing department to justify every cent charged for your care. It may catch some of the following errors:
- Duplicate costs.
- Upcoding (charging you for more expensive services than what you received).
- Charges for services you didn’t receive.
- Insurance not covering something it should.
Simple Ways to Avoid a Fall This Holiday Season
Itemizing your bill and taking out an emergency loan online is one way to handle the unexpected this winter. But it’s easier on your health and budget to simply avoid a fall in the first place.
Here’s what you can do to protect your family this season:
Prepare Your Home
- Clear your property of snow.
- Put down sand or salt to melt ice and provide traction.
- Remove clutter that could trip you and visitors.
- Install lights on your property to illuminate pathways.
- Consider installing railings if you have steps.
Practice Safe Decorating
- Never decorate on a ladder sport or roof by yourself.
- Always have a spotter at the bottom of your ladder.
- Don’t overreach beyond the center of your ladder.
- Don’t hang onto the gutters of your roof.
- Avoid standing on the top step of your ladder.
Above all else, be cautious. Slowing down despite the hustle and bustle can help you avoid a nasty tumble.
