HOLIDAY HAZARDS

Falling off a ladder while decorating the house is back in season. We offer some tips from safety agencies to help your hall decking go safely.

LIGHTING IT UP

1. Use lights approved for safe use by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Never connect more than three strands of incandescent lights together. Consider purchasing LED lights, which use less energy and don’t get as hot as traditional incandescent lights.

2. Check each set of lights. Examine new and old lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. Do not use electric lights on a metallic tree.

3. Check each extension cord. Make sure each cord is rated for the intended use and is in good condition. Do not use cords with cuts or signs of fraying.

4. Check outdoor lights for labels. Look for labels indicating that the lights have been certified for outdoor use, and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter-protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE

1. Buying a live tree? Check for freshness. A fresh tree’s needles are hard to pull from branches, and the needles do not break when bent between your fingers.

2. Place the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, vents and radiators. Be sure to monitor water levels daily, and keep the tree stand filled with water.

3. Buying an artificial tree? Look for the label “fire resistant.” Although this label does not mean the tree will not catch fire, it does indicate that the tree is more resistant to burning.

EMERGENCIES

In 2012, the most frequently reported holiday decorating incidents seen in emergency departments involved falls

(34 percent), lacerations (11 percent) and back strains (10 percent).

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand reports that the majority of cuts on hands occur while opening gifts, cooking or carving. Do not cut toward yourself, and use proper tools.

DOCTOR’S ORDERS

Surgeon Almaas Shaikh, trauma medical director at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, says each year before Halloween and continuing through December, her staff sees an increase in falls caused by holiday decorating.

“The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, celebrate life, to be grateful and reflect on what’s important,” Shaikh said. “They are also a time to appreciate the gift of health.”

Shaikh offers these tips for putting up and taking down holiday lights:

Use the buddy system. Holiday lights are a two-person job. One person should decorate, and the other should hold the ladder to make sure it’s secure. It’s also important to make sure the ladder is on steady ground.

Put on a helmet. It may seem silly, but it will save you from serious injury if you fall and hit your head.

Make sure you’re in good health. If you are uncomfortable or not used to climbing, consider calling a trained professional to help.

More than a third of holiday decorating-related visits to emergency rooms are for falls from ladders. There were about 15,000 injuries related to holiday decorations in the U.S. in November and December of 2016.

Mistletoe can cause illness if eaten by young children or pets. Poinsettia and holly berries can be toxic as well. Christmas tree and holiday decoration fires result in twice the injuries and more fatalities per fire than the average winter holiday fire.

A few tips to keep pets safe Keep chocolate out of reach. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can be toxic to dogs. Store wrapping supplies away from pets. Pets who ingest ribbon or tinsel can develop a foreign body obstruction. Careful...