November 13, 2025
Hey Dr. K- How Can I Stay Out of the ER This Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a busy time for emergency rooms, with some sources reporting an estimated 36,000 visits on Thanksgiving Day in one year. Statistics and doctor estimates suggest ER visits can spike by 5-12% during the holiday period, due to issues like food poisoning, alcohol-related incidents, burns, cuts, and an increase in other seasonal illnesses like the flu.
Harris County Medical Director Dr. Jay Kovar explains in this month’s “Hey Dr. K” video series how to avoid the common problems he sees in ERs during the holidays for people and their pets.
“This month we partnered with Cypress Creek Fire Department to address not just the common food borne illnesses and cuts we see in the ER every year but also the burn-related injuries caused by the increasing popularity of frying turkeys,” says Dr. Kovar.  “We also address common gastrointestinal poisoning veterinary ERs see from people who feed pets from the table. Keep your entire family safe this year and watch this video.” 
Dr. Kovar is here to answer your questions as well, just call 281-524-7660 for more information. As always, if you are experiencing an emergency, remember to call 911.    
About ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare      
ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare covers a 177 square mile area of northern Harris County with over 700,000 residents, the largest ambulance-only Emergency Service District in the state of Texas.  ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare receives over 65,000 calls a year and consistently ranks among the best EMS services in the country for speed of response, patient satisfaction and quality of care. The Harris County Emergency Services District 11 Communication Center, known as Control, is recognized as an ACE Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. This prestigious designation highlights our commitment to excellence in emergency dispatch services. As an ACE-accredited agency, we enjoy increased visibility in community service, enhanced support in litigation and liability management, and improved recruitment and retention, affirming the value and impact of our team’s work.     
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Contact: Miranda Sevcik, Public Information Officer 346-226-8808 
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