There’s a little Clark Griswold in all of us when the holidays roll around, each of us hoping to make our neighbors slightly envious with our brighter lights and bigger lawn decorations. Yet, like Clark, this need to impress can lead to many bumps, bruises, and falls along the way. So, in the spirit of giving, I give you this statistic from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees.”
Here are 5 helpful tips on how to stay safe during the holiday season.
1. Stay Off The Roof.
Santa and his reindeer have plenty of experience working on rooftops… you probably don’t. So, before you start climbing ladders and stringing lights from gutter to gutter, walking on loose shingles without the proper footwear, hire a roofing specialist or at the very least, read an article that gives you the proper advice you need to do it yourself.
2. Don’t Burn Down The House.
Whether you’re lighting the menorah for Hanukah or the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, you must remember to be careful. Accidents happen! According to the National Fire Protection Agency, “U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 200 home1 structure fires per year that began with Christmas trees in 2011-2015. These fires caused an annual average of 6 civilian deaths, 16 civilian injuries, and $14.8 million in direct property damage.”
3. Drink Responsibly.
It’s easy to get caught up in the celebrations, so go easy on the Eggnog. Drinking and driving during the holiday season is a very serious issue. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “Statistics show that during the holidays, two to three times more people die in alcohol-related crashes than during comparable periods the rest of the year. And 40 percent of traffic fatalities during these holidays involve a driver who is alcohol-impaired, compared to 28 percent for the rest of December.”
4. Watch The Road.
The weather outside can be frightful, so if you are planning to be out on the road, make sure you and your vehicle are prepared. Keep an extra set of clothes in your car, make sure you have an emergency kit, put chains on your tires if necessary and check your car’s battery. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that the month of December can be especially dangerous for motorists. During the holiday period 2001 through 2005, it was found that 41 percent of the fatalities occurred on New Year’s and 38 percent on Christmas.
5. Chew Your Food
You’re happily sitting at the table with friends and family, laughing, stuffing your mouth full with delicious food when— YOU’RE CHOKING! Yes, choking is a real issue that’s quite common during the holidays. According to the National Safety Council, “Choking is the eighth most common accidental cause of death in the US, resulting in about 2,800 deaths per year, many of them children. Drinking a lot—as one does around the holidays—can make you more likely to choke, because you're ingesting more and not paying a ton of attention.”
If you have any tips you’d like to share, please do.
And for more holiday related injuries, check out this link…
https://qz.com/859303/americas-most-common-christmas-related-injuries-in-charts/
