Every year, individuals deck out their homes for the holidays. Whether this is hanging lights, decorating a tree, or hanging holiday signs and photos, many Americans love to celebrate with décor and bright lights. While decking the halls is a fun and memorable tradition, there are times that it can cause serious injuries.
In fact, according to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were about 15,000 injuries involving holiday decorating in November and December of last year. All of these injured individuals were taken to the emergency room for their injuries. Each year since 2009, there have been at least 12,000 emergency room visits affiliated with holiday decorating.
According to statistics gathered by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, falling from a ladder is one of the most common holiday injuries. Another common injury is stepping on a broken glass ornament that is on the floor. The CPSC chairman says that on average, there are about 250 holiday decorating injuries each day throughout the holiday season.
Some of the best ways to practice caution during the holiday season is to make sure that trees always have plenty of water so that they don't dry out and become flammable. It is also dangerous to leave candles burning unattended. Anyone hanging lights should be extremely cautious when standing on a ladder. All glass and broken decorations should be swept up immediately to avoid injuries of this nature.
In 2012, the most frequently reported holiday decorating incidents seen in emergency departments involved falls. 34% of all injuries were those of this nature. Another 11% of injuries were due to lacerations, typically from ornaments or other glass figurines. Another 10% of injuries were due to back strains. This happens when people reach too far forward or too far back and pull out their back in the process.
Another danger in holiday decorating is the Christmas tree. Reports show that between 2009 and 2011 there were 200 fires around the Christmas holiday in which a Christmas tree was the first item that was ignited. Data shows that 10 people died in these fires, and 20 injuries. The fires also cost $16 million in property damage. Candle-related fires during the holidays resulted in 70 deaths within three years as well as 680 injuries and $308 million in property loss.
Many of these fires happen due to defective holiday lights. The CPSC recommends that consumers throw away any lights that have broken sockets or bare wires. Homeowners should also blow out all candles before leaving a room. All trees should be placed away from heat sources, as this will dry out live trees. Tree stands should ways be filled with water to help keep the tree from drying out. If you choose to do with an artificial free, purchase one that is fire-resistant.
When hanging Christmas lights, only use lights that have been tested and check each set of lights to make sure that they are working properly. Also, check each extension cord, and check outdoor lights for labels. When hanging the lights, it is important to practice ladder safety. This means always using the correct ladder for the job, and making sure that the ladder that you use can extend three feet past the point that you need it to extend. Also, individuals should never use a metal ladder when working with electrical wires, and should make sure that the ladder has slip grips on the steps.
It is essential to distribute weight evenly on a ladder to avoid tip overs, and to make sure that all stand up ladders are properly locked. If you are injured in a holiday decorating situation and believe that another party is liable, then contact an attorney at a local personal injury law firm today to learn more!