A notable amount of people were admitted after coming into contact with a venomous spider
(Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)Covid restrictions brought a sudden influx of activities from stockpiling to Zoom dates and bizarre pandemic purchases. And now, stats have revealed that newly-taken up hobbies over lockdown led to thousands of hospital admissions – specifically through DIY, pets and playing in parks.
In 2020/21, more than 5,600 people needed hospital admission after coming into contact with a powered hand tool and more than 2,700 were admitted after an accident with a non-powered hand tool such as a hammer or a saw, according to NHS Digital.
During the summer lockdown, many turned to gardening for solace. However, the green-fingered fun was cut short after 349 injured themselves with a lawnmower.
A significant number of people then welcomed a pet into their homes after spending much more time indoors.
What could possibly go wrong with a new four-legged friend?
A lot, apparently.
The joys of a new pup backfired for many, with 7,386 heading to the hospital after being struck by a dog.
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Shockingly, a further 60 people were admitted after coming into contact with a venomous spider, with 47 more admissions with rat bites.
Four people needed to be admitted after coming into contact with a scorpion. Meanwhile, a 90-year-old woman was admitted to hospital after being bitten or struck by a crocodile or alligator.
There was a notable increase in admissions from playground equipment.
Over 5,000 people had a fall during a visit to their local park, and while the average age of these patients was just nine-and-a-half years old, some parents and grandparents tried their hand at a spot of climbing.
Dozens of people over the age of 30 were admitted after falling from playground equipment, including eight people over the age of 90.
And 962 people needed admission after they injured themselves while climbing trees.
The figures only represent the people who were admitted to hospital during 2020/21 and many more accidents would have been dealt with by A&E doctors and GPs and people sent home to tend to their wounds.
Speaking to the Guardian, a spokesperson from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged people to “spare a thought for safety”, especially with accidents “that could have been prevented.”
“The publication of hospital admission figures always serves to remind us of the breadth of accident types that can result in an injury so severe that admission to hospital is required,” they told the PA news agency.
“In among the stranger entries in the database are some worrying trends that serve to highlight the accident challenges that we face.
“Accidents are preventable.”
