Valued Voice

The holiday season has begun! While decorating is one of the best ways to get into the festive spirit, data from the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that in 2023, roughly 14,900 patients were in emergency departments due to decorating-related injuries. Among these decoration injuries, almost 50% were incidents involving a fall. Most injuries associated with celebrating the holidays can be prevented with safety measures. People are urged to put safety into practice while purchasing toys for children, cooking that holiday feast or decorating your home.

The WHA Information Center analyzed holiday injury claims from September 2021 through June 2024. ICD-10 codes used included things such as fall from tree, electrocution, and fall on or from a ladder. Emergency department visits accounted for 45% of total holiday-related injury visits. The average age of a person visiting the emergency department for a holiday-related injury is 55 years old. The ZIP code with the highest visit counts for a holiday related injury is in La Crosse County. More females had visits to the emergency room for holiday-related injuries compared to males.

Here are some tips to make your holiday season safer:

• Keep your Christmas tree watered and away from heat sources.
• Ensure breakable and sharp decorations are kept out of reach of small children.
• When using a ladder, place it on firm and level ground. Have another person hold on and keep the ladder steady when in use.
• Place burning candles away from flammable objects and on a stable surface.
• Check holiday lights for damage and never overload electrical outlets.
• Follow age guidance and other safety information on toy packaging and choose toys that match each child's interests and abilities.