Most Common Christmas Accidents and Injuries
The Christmas season is a time of joy and celebration. You want to spend the season getting together with family and friends for food, presents, and great conversation. The last thing you want is to spend the Christmas season in a hospital recovering from a serious injury.
Unfortunately, thousands of Americans spend their holidays recovering from a holiday accident every year. While the season brings joy, it also brings extra dangers and risks. When the holiday season approaches, you need to be wary of accidents and injuries that are most common during the holidays.
Fires
Fires are significantly more common during the Christmas season because many holiday decorations are a fire hazard.
The biggest fire hazards during the season are:
- Christmas lights
- Christmas trees
- Candles
Many people underestimate the risk involved in putting up lights and trees. If you have a lot of lights, they use a lot of power, which can overload a circuit breaker. Additionally, they are normally placed outdoors where inclement weather can cause them to short circuit.
Trees are usually also decorated in lots of lights and are significantly more flammable than the outside of your home. Pine needles effectively act as kindling for a fire.
Finally, most people cook during the holidays. So when your home is filled with guests, or you have lots to do, it is easy to let an oven or stove go unwatched. This is almost as big a fire threat as lights and trees.
Slip and Fall Accidents
In the U.S., the Christmas season happens during the winter. And for most Americans, this means that snow and ice are common near the holiday. The slick ground often leads to slip and fall accidents. These accidents are even more likely when you have a house full of people tracking ice and snow into your entryway.
Car Accidents
The more people who are on the road, the more likely you are to get into a car accident. That is just basic statistics. Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for car traffic in the country.
Additionally, many drivers are in a hurry, stressed, or under the influence of alcohol during the Christmas season. This means that not only are there more drivers on the road, but also that they are driving less safely. If you can, you should try to avoid driving on Christmas day or eve.
Injuries from Toys
The most unfortunate injuries during the Christmas season are injuries that children suffer when playing with a new toy. Thousands of children end up in the emergency room every year due to toy injuries, and these injuries are most common during the Christmas season.
When buying toys for children, follow these tips to avoid a child getting hurt:
- Don’t buy toys for small children that could be a choking hazard
- Purchase safety gear like helmets and pads when buying children gifts like bikes or skateboards
- Help children set up and use powered toys to avoid electrocution
Most children get very excited when they get a new toy and aren’t very careful, which means you need to be careful for them.
Avoid Holiday Injuries and Accidents By Remaining Diligent
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, accidents and injuries spike during the holiday season. They’ve published a safety video to help people avoid getting hurt during the holidays.
If you want to protect yourself and your family, the best thing you can do is educate yourself on the dangers and avoid rushing. Driving slowly, cooking carefully, and double-checking everything will help reduce injuries during the Christmas season.
Contact the Jacksonville Personal Injury Law Firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra personal injury law firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Duval County, St. Johns County, and its surrounding areas:
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 396-1100
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W. Forsyth St. #170
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167