Accidents unwelcome Easter surprise

Injuries from lifting heavy objects incorrectly are common and most likely to happen at home.

Easter can be a dangerous time for Northlanders, ACC statistics show, the break spurring almost 900 claims last year.

Data from the four-day holiday last year shows you're most likely to be hopping along to an emergency centre on Easter Saturday.

ACC statistics revealed 878 claims for injuries sustained in Northland over the Easter holiday last year.

There were 188 claims for Good Friday, 282 on Saturday, 203 on Easter Sunday and 205 on Easter Monday.

The most common injuries claimed for during last year's Easter break in Northland were as a result of loss of balance, 249; followed by 95 claims for slipping/tripping and 96 for injuries sustained from lifting/carrying objects.

Nationally, 17,905 injury claims were made over the four days of last Easter.

Most injuries happened on the second day of the Easter break, totalling 5365 claims, costing $4,596,924.

This was a significant drop from the second day of Easter in 2013 when 6174 claims were made.

ACC spokeswoman Suzanne Muth said the number of claims made in the Easter holiday were no higher than the rest of the year but that didn't mean people should let their guards down.

"We don't really see any differences in the number of claims we receive on Easter and any other day, which is probably good because it means that people are still mindful while they are at home and enjoying themselves, whether they are on an Easter egg hunt or just relaxing," she said.

"The numbers seem to be around the average number of claims that we receive each year, so anywhere between 3000 and 5500 per day."

She encouraged people to be careful over the break and keep in mind that home injuries were just as likely as injuries sustained outside, she said.

"A lot of accidents do happen at home.

"People need to be wary of risks especially when they are at home where they feel safe so don't pay as much attention as when they are driving or when they are at work.

And with a lot of people going away over the Easter break "it also pays to take extra care on the roads", she said.