The Patient Poll, conducted by the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society this past July, asked participants: "Have you or someone you know ever been injured (such as receiving a cut that required medical attention) while opening the packaging (not gift wrap) of a holiday or birthday gift?"

Its findings:

· Yes, one time (6.3 percent);

· Yes, more than once (11.0 percent);

· No (82.7 percent).

According to the American Dialect Society, wrap rage is defined as anger brought on by the frustration of trying to open a factory-sealed purchase. The organization recognized the term in 2007 as one of the "most useful."

Pennsylvania physicians are encouraging citizens to play it safe with tough-to-open packaging to avoid an unnecessary trip to the emergency room.

The following tips may help:

· If you must use a knife or another type of sharp object, cut away from your body.

· If you must use scissors, use ones with blunt tips.

· Wear protective gloves.

· Avoid opening hermetically sealed packages in a crowded area.

· Don't use your legs to keep the product stable while cutting.