Thanksgiving is only a day away, and if you’re preparing to travel across the state or host family for a Thanksgiving meal, we hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday. Of course, not everyone will have a perfect Thanksgiving, and plenty of people will end up needing an ambulance for one reason or another. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at five of the most common reasons why someone ends up calling for an ambulance on Thanksgiving.

Calling 911 On Thanksgiving

We’re ready to respond to whatever emergency develops tomorrow, but here’s a look at five of the most common reasons why ambulances are dispatched on Thanksgiving.

1. Automobile Accidents – Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays on the roads, and when you consider that the roads are often in worse shape here in Wisconsin as the weather gets colder, it can be a recipe for car accidents. We know that we’ll respond to a number of automobile accidents tomorrow, so do your part to help keep the roads safe by traveling at safe speeds, putting the distractions down and being aware of other vehicles and hazards that may be nearby!

2. Dizziness/Fainting – Thanksgiving can end up being quite stressful, especially if you’re trying to make sure everything comes out of the oven at the right time. Oftentimes this stress and activity can manifest into physical symptoms, especially in older adults. It’s not uncommon for them to experience dizziness, lightheadedness or even pass out as a result of a rather strenuous day preparing for Thanksgiving. Share duties and encourage others to take a break if they seem pale or are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.

3. Fires/Burns – Thanksgiving is oftentimes a busy day for your oven, or maybe you’re one of those people who likes to deep fry their turkey. If something goes amiss while cooking, you may end up having a firetruck and an ambulance dispatched to your home. Roughly 900 homes are lost each year as a result of a Thanksgiving-related fire. Burns are also quite common as a result of handling and preparing hot food, and while they don’t always require an ambulance to be dispatched, oftentimes emergency rooms will see an uptick in burn-related injuries on Thanksgiving.

4. Heart Attack/Chest Pain – As we mentioned in the second point, Thanksgiving can be quite stressful on your body, and when your stress levels and blood pressure rise, your risk of a heart attack increases. Some people also end up overexerting themselves physically on Thanksgiving, either during the family’s backyard football game or while climbing in or out of their deer stand. If you are experiencing chest pain or tightness, don’t hesitate to call 911 and have emergency personnel dispatched to your location.

5. Cuts/Lacerations – Similar to the section above on burns, you can bet that your local emergency department will be ready to handle an influx of cuts and lacerations related to a Thanksgiving meal. Every year thousands of Americans end up needing medical attention as a result of a poorly peeled potato or a miscut when carving the turkey. Handle knives with special care this Thanksgiving and keep them out of reach of little fingers.

We’re here to respond to whatever emergency you run into tomorrow, but we hope you won’t need our assistance during your Thanksgiving. The team at Gold Cross Ambulance wishes you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

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