Holiday Safety Guide 2025: Christmas & New Year’s Emergencies — Essential Tips for Every Family

Holiday Safety Guide 2025: Christmas & New Year’s Emergencies — Essential Tips for Every Family

The holiday season brings celebrations, travel, winter weather, and long-awaited family time—but it’s also a period when medical emergencies spike nationwide. Between Christmas cooking, icy sidewalks, New Year’s Eve parties, increased alcohol consumption, and seasonal stress, December and early January are among the busiest months for 911 responses.

Most emergencies happen at home and often long before an ambulance arrives. With the right knowledge and basic lifesaving skills, you can protect your family, assist your neighbors, and make a critical difference during this high-risk season.

This BVAC Holiday Safety Guide covers the most common Christmas and New Year’s emergencies, warning signs to watch for, and important steps to take while waiting for professional help to arrive.

Cardiac Emergencies Rise During Christmas & New Year’s

Cold temperatures, holiday stress, heavy meals, travel, and alcohol can significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and cardiac arrest during the holidays. December 25th, December 26th, and January 1st consistently rank among the highest days for heart-related deaths.

Warning Signs

• Chest pressure, tightness, heaviness, or discomfort
• Pain radiating to the jaw, arm, back, or shoulder
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden collapse, no pulse, or gasping breathing

What to Do

• Call 911 immediately
• Start CPR if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally
• Use an AED as soon as possible
• Keep the person calm and limit movement

Early CPR can double or triple survival chances.
Getting trained in AHA BLS CPR is one of the best ways to protect your family during the holiday season.

Kitchen Accidents & Burns — A Christmas Day Hot Spot

Holiday cooking leads to a dramatic increase in burns, cuts, grease fires, and kitchen injuries, especially with crowded kitchens and distractions.

Safety Tips

• Turn pot handles inward to prevent spills
• Keep flammable items away from stovetops
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Keep children and pets away from hot surfaces
• Keep a functioning ABC fire extinguisher nearby

First Aid for Burns

• Cool the burn with cool running water for 10–15 minutes
• Do NOT use butter, oils, or ice
• Cover lightly with a clean, dry dressing
• Seek emergency care if the burn is large, blistering, or on the face/hands

Slips, Falls & Winter Weather Injuries

Holiday decorations, icy sidewalks, and snowy driveways cause thousands of injuries every December.

Prevention

• Use sturdy, high-quality ladders for decorating
• Wear shoes or boots with good traction
• Salt and sand outdoor walkways
• Never climb furniture to hang lights
• Keep walkways clear of extension cords and decorations

First Response

• Control bleeding with direct pressure
• Use a tourniquet only for severe, life-threatening bleeding
• Do not move anyone who may have a head, neck, or spinal injury
• Call 911 if the person has severe pain, confusion, or loses consciousness

New Year’s Eve Alcohol-Related Emergencies

New Year’s Eve generates a surge in emergency room visits due to:

• Alcohol poisoning
• Falls and injuries
• Fights and trauma
• Vehicle collisions
• Hypothermia after outdoor celebrations

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

• Vomiting
• Slow, irregular breathing
• Pale, cool, or blue-tinged skin
• Unresponsiveness or inability to wake

What to Do

• Call 911
• Roll the person on their side (recovery position)
• Monitor breathing
• Keep the person warm

Do NOT leave them alone, even if you think they “just need to sleep it off.”

Hypothermia & Cold Exposure

Cold weather, winter storms, and holiday travel can put adults, children, and older adults at risk for hypothermia.

Warning Signs

• Shivering
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Clumsy movements

What to Do

• Bring the person indoors immediately
• Remove wet clothing
• Warm the person gradually with blankets
• Offer warm drinks (not alcohol) if they are alert
• Seek medical care if symptoms worsen

Pet Emergencies During Christmas & New Year’s

The holidays introduce new hazards for pets.

Common Pet Hazards

• Chocolate and holiday sweets
• Xylitol (found in sugar-free gum and some baked goods)
• Poinsettias, lilies, and mistletoe
• Ribbon, tinsel, and string
• Cooked bones
• Alcohol
• Small toys and batteries

BVAC Tip:
Take a Pet First Aid & Disaster Response course to learn CPR, choking relief, and emergency care for pets.

Allergic Reactions & Holiday Food Emergencies

Holiday meals often include ingredients that can trigger severe allergic reactions.

Warning Signs

• Hives or rash
• Swelling of lips, face, or tongue
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Vomiting or abdominal pain

What to Do

• Use an EpiPen® immediately
• Call 911
• Monitor breathing and be prepared to begin CPR

Fireworks & New Year’s Injuries

Both legal and illegal fireworks can cause severe injuries, especially to hands, eyes, and face.

Safety Tips

• Never hold fireworks in your hand
• Keep a bucket of water and fire extinguisher nearby
• Only adults should handle fireworks
• Never relight malfunctioning fireworks (“duds”)

How to Protect Your Family: Get Trained Before an Emergency Happens

Emergencies rarely happen in front of professionals—they happen in front of regular people.
BVAC Rescue Response Training Center offers nationally recognized courses that prepare you to act fast:

✔ AHA BLS CPR
✔ First Aid & Stop the Bleed
✔ First Response Essentials
✔ Pet First Aid & Disaster Response
✔ Tactical Medicine (TECC / PHTLS)
✔ Emergency Medication Skills: EpiPen & NARCAN

Our courses help families, workplaces, caregivers, and community members stay confident and prepared, especially during the high-risk holiday season.

The Best Gift You Can Give This Holiday Season Is Safety

Christmas and New Year’s should be filled with joy—not preventable emergencies.
With a few simple precautions and lifesaving skills, you can protect your family, help your community, and respond effectively when every second counts.