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News Regional & State News New Year's Day leads holidays as most dangerous for alcohol-related injuries
Friday, 30 December 2011 18:39

New Year's Day leads holidays as most dangerous for alcohol-related injuries

Written by  Megan Lello and Radio Pennsylvania

(Harrisburg) -- A Pennsylvania health organization is cautioning people to be careful this weekend since New Year's Day poses many alcohol-related problems for young adults. The Pennsylvania Medical Society says underage drinking causes more young adults to visit the emergency room on New Year's than on other holidays. Doctor Henry Unger, president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, says the wide variety of injuries stems from incidents such as alcohol poisoning, car crashes, and fights. "There are broken bones, and there are stitches because of lacerations that they incur," he says. "A lot of times, unfortunately, people fall, they hit their head, which can cause bleeding inside their head, in the brain. Some of these, are minor, like little lacerations, but some of them are really severe." Unger says too much alcohol consumption can also lead to bleeding ulcers and stopped breathing. He adds 250 percent more alcohol-related injuries end up in the emergency room on New Year's Day compared to any other national holiday.

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