The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, emphasis on ‘with care’

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Think roasting chestnuts over an open fire or lighting the menorah sounds dangerous?

Try stringing lights on your second story, putting up ornaments or slicing that Christmas ham.

Every year, records show, thousands of Americans injure themselves during the period covering Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in all sorts of festive ways. They topple from ladders while decorating, step on glass ornaments, cut themselves while unwrapping presents and hurt themselves in the kitchen.

In November and December alone last year, nearly 15,000 people nationwide went to emergency rooms for decorating injuries, according to estimates from the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, based on its National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, which surveys hospitals.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette used that survey data to break down what types of decorations actually cause injuries around the holidays. By combing through the survey and its no-frills narratives, one can get an idea of the types of pitfalls that are part and parcel of the holiday season.

“I can remember multiple of cases of cut feet — I can picture people in their home, comfortable with their shoes off, then somebody broke a Christmas bulb,” said physician Thomas Campbell, chair of emergency medicine at Allegheny Health Network.

Dr. Campbell’s experience is reflected in the federal data. Across the country, there were 1,365 lacerations from non-electric Christmas decorations just in November and December of last year, many on the feet, according to the survey.

“26 [year-old female] WAS BAREFOOT AND STEPPED ON A CHRISTMASLIGHT AS SHE WAS DECORATING HER HOUSE.