The holiday season is the perfect time to get together with friends and have some fun. However, it is during the holiday season that our Borland Phiffer Law accident lawyers see plenty of injuries from victims. We’ll help by telling you of the common holiday accidents and ways you can avoid them.

 

1. Electrocution

Electric currents can cause thermal burns, tissue damage, and cardiac arrest in rare cases. Always be wary of extension cords, light strands, and outlets during the holidays. Be on the lookout for damaged and frayed wires. Avoid overloading sockets during the holiday season.

 

2. Falling while decorating

Most people get injured while putting up decorations for the holidays. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 5,800 men and women get injuries while putting up decorations. You may fall from roofs, ladders, stairs, and porches.

 

You’ll sustain injuries when you slip or trip on objects like ornaments and tree skirts. Here are ways you can avoid falling while decorating when using ladders.

 

• Always put your ladder on a level surface
• Extend your ladder 3 feet beyond the edge of the roof
• Make sure the step ladders are fully locked and open

3. Fires

There are about 100 Christmas tree fires and 1,200 fires due to lighted candles. Fires cause injury and may even lead to death. Make sure you use a green Christmas tree to avoid fires. You should also check the tree lights for cracked sockets or loose connections that can cause a fire.

 

If you find a damaged string, it’s better to throw it out. For candles, make sure you put them on stable surfaces where pets and children cannot knock them over. Lit candles should also be kept away from the decorations, trees, curtains, and furniture. Always put out candles that are not in use.

 

4. Car accidents

Unpredictable weather during the holidays is the main cause of car accidents.  Here are tips you can use to stay safe.

 

• Buckle up: buckling up saves lives. If you get involved in an accident, the seat belt will save your life.
• Avoid traveling in the evening: the temperature begins to fall once the sun goes down. It’s always safer to travel during the daytime since it’s easy to see and the temperatures are higher.
• Don’t drink and drive: It is illegal to drink and drive. You also risk getting injured or even death. So, it’s best to avoid drunk driving.
• Keep your eyes open: do not drive when you are tired. When driving, you should always be vigilant when on the road.

5. Food poisoning

Food poisoning happens a lot to kids and pets during the holiday season. Some decorative plants such as mistletoe, poinsettias, and holly are poisonous. You can hang such decorations out of reach of kids. Here are a few tips to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

 

• Cook food by following the food safety standards.
• Store leftovers according to safety standards.

6. Cuts and burns

You should watch out for potential burns when cooking in the kitchen. Here are safety tips to avoid burns

• Make sure the oven doors are closed: your kids may be tempted to touch inside the oven.
• Turn the handles of pans away from you: it prevents your little ones from grabbing the handles.
• Don’t let your kids cook without supervision: your kids are likely to burn themselves.

Contact Borland Phiffer personal injury lawyers

We hope you take the above safety precautions to avoid any injuries. However, if you get into an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated. At Borland Phiffer Law firm, we are always here to help. Contact us. 432-219-6063