Tis the season to take a trip to the emergency room. From house fires to drunk driving accidents, the holiday season is a dangerous one. In fact, an average of 1,170 home fires each year start because of Christmas decorations and 38% of all home fire deaths occur during the winter months. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are more than 1,700 Christmas related injuries each year across the United States. Shockingly, this number doesn’t even account for holiday-related car accidents or fires caused by candles, cooking, or electrical failures.
While you can’t avoid every accident, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of injury. To stay safe this holiday season, try these top 5 safety tips.
- Water Your Tree Daily – If you have a live tree, it is important to keep it watered every single day to reduce the risk of a fire. An estimated 260 home fires begin with Christmas trees every single year, resulting in $16.4 million in property damage and 24 injuries.
- Use Flameless Decorative Candles – Open flames can increase the risk of a home fire significantly. In fact, candles started 45% of all home decoration fires and the peak time of year for this is December. Christmas, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Day are the top 3 days of the year for candle-related fires. This year, switch to decorative flameless candles instead!
- Hire a Decorating Service – Instead of hanging your own holiday lights and decorations, consider hiring a decorating service to do it for you. These services are licensed and bonded and have the necessary safety equipment to prevent devastating falls. Roughly 5,800 people every year are treated in hospital emergency rooms because of falls putting up holiday decorations.
- Put Away the Cords – Every year, more than 4,000 injuries are caused by electrical extension cords. 50% of these injuries are because people tripped over cords that weren’t secured or were loose in the walkway. Consider putting away the cords by securing them together and placing them out of the way. You can also buy battery powered decorations to help prevent tripping injuries.
- Designate a Driver – In 2015, more than 270 people died in accidents on Christmas Day alone. The holiday season is a festive one, full of parties and family gatherings. This year make sure you have a designated driver to take you home or consider calling an Uber or Lyft. Never get into a car with someone who has been drinking and remember: buzzed driving is drunk driving.
The holidays are a joyful time and one that should be cherished with friends and family. This season, make a commitment to protecting yourselves and your loved ones by playing it safe. With a little preparation and planning, you can enjoy the holiday season and ring in the new year unharmed.
Injured this Holiday Season?
If you’ve been injured in an accident this holiday season, and you believe that someone else’s negligence was to blame, it is important to speak to an experienced injury attorney immediately. At Zimmet & Zimmet, our experienced Daytona Beach personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing victims of injury accidents. Contact us today for a free initial consultation and review of your case. Call 386-255-6400 or fill out our confidential contact form and someone will call you back!
For More Information
- What is a No-Doubt Liability in Florida Car Accidents?
- How Do I Know if I’m the Victim of Medical Malpractice?
