Decoration-Related Injuries
No one wants to experience pain and stress over the holidays. Unfortunately, a large number of injuries are sustained over the winter holiday season. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 15,000 holiday-related emergency room visits recorded during the 2012 winter holiday season. This number of holiday-related injuries rose from 12,000 in 2009. This amounts to 250 injuries per day during the holiday season from November through December. Injuries caused by falls account for 34% of emergency department admissions during this time while lacerations and back injuries account for 11% and 10%, respectively. Injuries result from a number of accidents including ladder falls, broken ornaments and glass decorations, as well as falling Christmas trees.
Holiday Decorating Safety
It is important to follow directions and warning labels on decorative products. In addition, there are safety precautions you can take to ensure you and your family enjoys this holiday season. However, injuries can happen even when you take safety measures. A personal injury claim can be made if an injury was the result of another party’s negligence. This can be another person or a company. If you sustained an injury that resulted from the carelessness of another party, you need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. Learn more about avoiding holiday-related injuries precautions from the tips below:
Decoration Safety Tips
Do not use fragile or sharp decorations, especially if there are young children in the house,
Keep tinsel and Christmas tree ornaments out of reach of young children and avoid decorations that look like food to keep children safe from choking hazards,
Use the same caution with holiday plants that young children or pets may ingest. Common holiday plants such as holly berries, mistletoe, and poinsettias are toxic to humans and pets,
Avoid toxic decorations such as spun glass angel’s hair and bubble lights. Use nontoxic spray snow.
Ladder Safety Tips
Follow instructions and warnings on labels,
The correct height of a ladder should extend three feet above the surface on which you are working. For example, if hanging lights on the house, you should use a ladder that extends three feet above the roof,
Always place the ladder on even, stable ground or use leg leveler devices,
Have someone spot you and hold the ladder steady while you are working and climbing up or down,
Ladders should be set at a 75-degree angle,
Stand below the top three rungs,
Keep your body centered between the ladder rails and do not lean side to side,
Do not use a ladder near a doorway,
Never leave a ladder unattended.
Contact Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC
If you believe your injury was no fault of your own, you need a personal injury lawyer to support you through this stressful time. The Atlanta metro area attorneys at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC know the financial, physical, and emotional burdens that result from these kinds of injuries. Contact us now for a free consultation.