The month of November marks the beginning of many holidays. With this brings lots of preparation, decorations, parties, food, celebrations, and get togethers. It seems as if we begin this prep work earlier and earlier each year. Stores already have the Christmas sales and mark downs posted, turkeys are everywhere in the grocery isles, and I’m sure Santa will be in the mall any moment now. Don’t get me wrong, I love this season, especially the light displays in my neighborhood.
When I think of holiday lights, I am a bit remiss remembering Chevy Chase in the movie “Christmas Vacation.” “Clark’s” competitive spirit of hanging 250 strands of lights, each with 100 bulbs, totalling twenty five thousand bulbs—enough to cause the electric company to turn on their auxiliary nuclear generator spurs many enthusiastic folks to do the same. I suppose now isn’t the time to tell you about the year I tethered my teenage son to the chimney so he could place the lights on the second story of my house….Of course that was BEFORE I became the Injury Prevention Coordinator.
But seriously, hanging lights should be taken seriously. Every year emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries related to holiday lights, decorations, and Christmas trees. In the last few years THFW has admitted over 200 patients during this festive season for falls alone!
So, a few things you can do to stay safe this holiday season:
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree- the tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights and someone touching a branch could be electrocuted
• Have someone stabilize the ladder while you are hanging lights
• Check each set of lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed wires or loose connections
• Use only three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord
• Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations
• Keep children buckled up—even on those long night time drives to family events
• Remember to extinguish candles
• Keep trimmings with small parts out of the reach of children
• Test your smoke alarms!
• Poinsettias are poisonous to humans and animals
• Turn off all lights when leaving the house or going to bed
Enjoy your friends and family this season, stay safe and make this holiday bright so you can take pleasure in the many more to come.
- Mary Ann Contreras, RN
Injury Prevention Coordinator
When I think of holiday lights, I am a bit remiss remembering Chevy Chase in the movie “Christmas Vacation.” “Clark’s” competitive spirit of hanging 250 strands of lights, each with 100 bulbs, totalling twenty five thousand bulbs—enough to cause the electric company to turn on their auxiliary nuclear generator spurs many enthusiastic folks to do the same. I suppose now isn’t the time to tell you about the year I tethered my teenage son to the chimney so he could place the lights on the second story of my house….Of course that was BEFORE I became the Injury Prevention Coordinator.
But seriously, hanging lights should be taken seriously. Every year emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries related to holiday lights, decorations, and Christmas trees. In the last few years THFW has admitted over 200 patients during this festive season for falls alone!
So, a few things you can do to stay safe this holiday season:
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree- the tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights and someone touching a branch could be electrocuted
• Have someone stabilize the ladder while you are hanging lights
• Check each set of lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed wires or loose connections
• Use only three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord
• Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations
• Keep children buckled up—even on those long night time drives to family events
• Remember to extinguish candles
• Keep trimmings with small parts out of the reach of children
• Test your smoke alarms!
• Poinsettias are poisonous to humans and animals
• Turn off all lights when leaving the house or going to bed
Enjoy your friends and family this season, stay safe and make this holiday bright so you can take pleasure in the many more to come.
- Mary Ann Contreras, RN
Injury Prevention Coordinator
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