Keep the season merry and bright with these holiday safety tips

You might think of the holidays as filled with joy—and maybe a little stress—but probably not hazards. Yet, this time of year has the potential for accidents and injuries.

Those risks don’t have to become your reality, though. Hazard-proof your holiday festivities with the safety tips we share below.

Hazards of the holiday season

We often see the results of holiday festivities gone wrong with a visit to the Lakeview Hospital emergency room. Burns from a fire, injuries from falling, and even food poisoning can all wreak havoc on your holiday celebrations and require medical care.

You may never have considered the dangers of the holiday season, but doing so can be sobering! Just consider the Christmas tree, for example. Christmas tree-related fires have many causes, including electrical malfunctions and candles, and they can occur whether you have a natural or artificial tree.

Holiday cooking is also a common source of house fires. The National Fire Protection Association reports that most home structure fires occurred on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve in 2022, mainly related to a holiday meal.

Beyond the fire hazards presented by the holiday season, there’s also an increased risk of falls, food poisoning and toy-related safety hazards.

5 ho ho holiday safety tips

Stay safe this holiday season by taking a few precautions during holiday decorating and when celebrating the season:

1. Pay attention to your tree. Before using an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled as fire-resistant. If you opt for a real tree, take special care to keep it well-watered and regularly pick up needles as they fall off. Christmas tree safety is still essential late in the season. Nearly 40% of tree fires occur in early January as real trees dry out.

2. Double-check your lights. Before reusing last year’s strand of tree lights, check that they’re still in good shape. Toss out any light strings that are frayed or broken, and make sure there aren’t any loose connections. When hanging lights, don’t string too many strands together. Use indoor and outdoor lights only in the indicated location.

3. Watch your footing. Before climbing a ladder to enhance your holiday decor, ensure the ladder is in good shape and has sound footing. Also, regularly check your house for other trip hazards—it’s easy for clutter (think gifts, wrapping paper and even extra paper towels) to build up this time of year.

4. Be extra careful in the kitchen. When preparing food during the holidays, practice fire safety and food safety. Always supervise kids in the kitchen, and don’t leave the room when food is cooking since a fire can catch quickly. Ensure your crew keeps raw and cooked foods separated. You should always check the temperature of meats to ensure they’re cooked thoroughly before serving, and put away any leftovers relatively quickly after the meal.

5. Choose toys carefully. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, toys are a frequent cause of injury, leading to 145,500 emergency visits for children 12 and under in 2022 alone. Confirm the toy is age-appropriate and is free of unsafe parts before leaving it under the tree. These tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics for selecting safe toys may help.

One final tip? If you haven’t checked your smoke detectors in a while, take the time to do so now! Working smoke detectors are an essential part of holiday safety.

If you find yourself injured or sick despite your best holiday safety precautions, we’re here to help! Access our virtual care services from the comfort of your home.