During the festive season, the home is full of family members and other guests, and in the excitement of it all, accidents can easily happen.

During the festive season, UK hospitals receive over 80,000 people who have suffered from a fall, burn or cut. These sorts of accidents are not uncommon at any time of the year, however Christmas Day itself also sees a number of outrageous and bizarre accidents, usually caused by the dangerous mixture of alcohol, tiredness, stress and excitement. This article reveals some of the strangest accidents that may have occurred over Christmas.

* Putting up the Christmas Tree

The kitchen is already considered one of the most dangerous rooms within the household when it comes to accidents, however Christmas time poses even more of a risk. Having to handle sharp knives, boiling water and hot food, as well as attempting to work around an excited family, can lead to a number of injuries. Unfortunately the accidents don’t stop there, though, as many people have ended up in A & E due to choking and food poisoning on Christmas day. And it even seems that Christmas crackers can be dangerous, with four people breaking their arm whilst pulling them last year.

* Dangerous Christmas Presents

* The Tree

No matter what people think, for children and many adults Christmas is about the presents. Yet it appears that the fortress of packaging around many of the valuable items we buy can cause a number of injuries, with hundreds of people across the country managing to stab themselves with scissors and knifes while attempting to cut away protective plastics or cardboard. The stress and frustration built up from impossible packaging has even lead to some medical experts using the term “wrap rage”, after a British study found 60,000 people went to hospital due to cuts, muscle strain and sprains caused by tearing into their gifts.

The presents themselves have caused some of the most bizarre reported accidents. Last year five people ended up in A & E as a result of out-of-control Scalextric cars.

Unfortunately for the people in these bizarre cases, their injuries are often caused by their own negligence, meaning they are likely to be ineligible to claim compensation for their suffering.

Balancing a full-time medical career as well as gaining a further qualification in a specialised field at the same time can seem almost impossible. The Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) requires all physicians to pass their examination process however this is often regarded as one of the most demanding and stressful periods for a medical student.

The preparation for these exams takes months of hard work and dedication, which many people cannot find the time for. The pass rates for specialist training courses can put many people off, however remember you may not pass first time, but if you are determined and revise in the right way, there is no reason why you shouldn’t pass the MRCP. This article will provide exam revision advice for the MRCP qualifications.

How to pass the MRCP

There are two exams which make up the MRCP qualification as well as a final practical assessment. The MRCP1 includes two best of five (BOF) papers, both lasting three hours and the MRCP2 contains 100 BOF questions over two written papers.

Previous students have found that practice is simply the best method in order to pass these two examinations. Obviously only you can determine which method will suit you best, however many previous students have found going through a series of BOF and multiple choice questions (MCQ) is an extremely effective way of memorising the many clinical scenarios as well as familiarising yourself with the format. These revision techniques can also identify what areas you’re particularly weak at and which may require more attention.

Once you have progressed past the written exams, you are then able to take the Practical Assessment of Examination Skills (PACES). The practical period consists of five clinical stations assessed by two examiners. It can be difficult to think of ways to revise for a practical exam, so it’s important to find a good method. Remember to practice at keeping calm and working well under pressure. You can also go back to your medical training and appreciate the physiology within clinical methods.

Tips to help your medical exam revision

Revising for exams is difficult, especially when you have to find the time to fit your revision in around a medical career. However there are many ways in which to effectively revise for medical exams.

* Make sure you begin in plenty of time
Beginning your revision at least two months prior to your exam can greatly improve your chances of succeeding. A helpful way of keeping track is structuring your time within a revision timetable. This should include the topics you wish to cover and the amount of time you feel should be spent on each.

* Take lots of short breaks
Short breaks are a brilliant way of feeling refreshed after an intense revision session, even if it is simply making a cup of tea or sitting in the garden, it’s important to rest your mind. Over working can be just useless as not revising at all, so aim to spend around 8-10 hours revising a day.

* Use the range of help and support provided
There are plenty of services online and throughout the medical community that offer a brilliant range of online courses and revision guides as well as providing practice questions, explanatory answers and eLectures which can improve your chance of gaining a MRCP qualification.