Heed Christmas Safety Tips for a More Joyous Holiday Season

Christmas is all about fun, festivities, and cherished traditions, but did you know it can also be full of holiday hazards?

From daring ladder climbs while hanging Christmas lights to the kitchen chaos of Christmas dinner prep, the holidays keep ERs across the country busy!

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports a surprising 160 decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, with falls accounting for more than 40% of incidents. In 2022, roughly 14,800 people visited the ER for holiday-related mishaps.

To keep your Christmas bright and injury-free, check out these holiday safety tips from Christmas Central!

Holiday lights and dazzling displays can add sparkle to your décor but can pose risks if you don't take the right precautions. Keep these electrical safety tips in mind:

• Inspect light and extension cords for fraying and replace any that look worse for wear.

• Ensure all Christmas light strands are complete, with no empty sockets.

• Use clips or hangers instead of nails or staples to secure electrical cords.

• Only use UL-approved lights and cords, and ensure outdoor lights are rated for exterior use.

• Choose heavy-duty extension cords when necessary.

• Don’t overload outlets.

• Set lights on a timer and turn them off when you’re asleep or away from home.

• Check our technical light information for more on Christmas light safety.

Decking the halls often means using a ladder. Here’s how to make sure you’re safe while reaching those tricky spots:

• Check your ladder for stability and damage before use.

• Set it up on a level surface and never elevate it with random objects.

• Follow the “four-to-one” rule: Set the base of the ladder one foot out for every four feet up!

• Stay within the rails and avoid the top step; use a lift line instead of carrying items up yourself.

• Keep your ladder far from power lines.

Believe it or not, gift wrapping can lead to injuries – everything from cuts to strained backs. Such injuries usually are more nuisance than life-threatening, but you can avoid inconvenient aches and pains with these tips:

• Sit in a comfortable position while wrapping gifts and take breaks to avoid lower back strain.

• Keep scissors and knives away from kids.

• Be cautious when using sharp objects to open resistant packaging.

• Keep wrapping supplies away from open flames like candles or fireplaces.

• Don’t burn wrapping paper in the fireplace – it’s a big fire hazard!

Busy holiday kitchens can serve up anything from painful cooking burns to food-borne illnesses. To avoid kitchen hazards this Christmas, remember these kitchen safety tips:

• Wash hands and surfaces to prevent contamination.

• Avoid eating raw cookie dough due to risks from raw eggs and flour.

• Avoid licking your fingers while cooking, baking or frosting Christmas cookies.

• Use potholders and keep your fingers away from hot elements.

• Keep raw meat away from other foods, using separate cutting boards for meat.

• Don’t leave cooking unattended.

• Keep flammable items, like potholders and kitchen towels, away from stovetops.

• Use clean utensils for taste testing and avoid double-dipping.

Even tree trimming comes with risks. Keep these in mind:

• Wipe down your artificial tree before setting it up to remove flammable dust.

• Supervise kids when decorating to prevent cuts from broken ornaments; shatterproof options can help.

• Keep light bulbs out of reach of young children.

• If you have a live tree, water it regularly, and never leave your lit tree unattended.

• Place your tree close to an outlet to avoid light cords crossing walkways.

• When it’s time to dispose of your natural tree, recycle it appropriately. Never burn a real Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. This National Fire Protection Association video shows how quickly a dry Christmas tree can burn.

Here are a few additional holiday safety tips to keep in mind:

• When using candles, use sturdy candle holders and keep lit candles away from flammable items. Consider battery-operated flameless candles.

• Secure inflatable lawn decorations with stakes or sandbags to prevent them from blowing away and creating road hazards.

• Holiday-themed pathway lights are a great way to keep walkways visible during winter months. Keep paths clear of snow and ice to prevent slips.

This Christmas, keep the season merry by staying alert to common safety risks. Take precautions to ensure a safe, joyful holiday and avoid injuries that could ruin your holiday fun.

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