Lockdown hobbies led to thousands of hospital admissions

Lockdown hobbies resulted in thousands of people needing hospital care after sustaining injuries, figures suggest.

With restrictions in place people took up DIY, bought new pets and spent more time playing in parks and gardens.

But admission figures show that not all of these activities kept people cheerful with thousands needing treatment as a result.

The data, from NHS Digital for 2020/21, show that 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.

And 349 people were admitted after injuring themselves with a lawnmower.

More than 5,300 people were admitted after falling from playground equipment.

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 as 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.

A significant number of people also purchased new pets as they suddenly found themselves spending more time at home.

But for some this may not have bought the joy they expected, as 7,386 were admitted to English hospitals after being bitten or struck by a dog.

Rat bites contributed to 47 hospital admissions and 60 people were admitted after coming into contact with a venomous spider.

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 crocodile or alligator.

Some people turned their hands to improving their culinary expertise.

But the admissions data show that 2,243 needed to be admitted after coming into contact with hot drinks, food, fats and cooking oils.

Many expressed gratitude for the sunny weather during the first lockdown, but 153 people were admitted to hospital with sun burn.

Meanwhile “overexertion and strenuous or repetitive movements” contributed to 12,355 hospital admissions.

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.

Many of the accidents and injuries reduced compared to the previous year as others spent more time indoors and less time engaging in their usual pursuits.

Though hospital admissions for one type of injury increased substantially.

The number of people who needed help after being struck by lightning rose from three cases in 2019/20 to 18 in 2020/21 – which some would say provides more evidence that 2020 was a year like no other.

A spokesperson from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) told the PA news agency: “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.

“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.

“In the midst of the excitement of Christmas, particularly for those who were not able to be with their loved ones last year, we’d urge people to spare a thought for safety so the celebrations are not cut short by an accident that could have been prevented.”