Stay Safe When Decorating Your Home

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, every holiday season during November and December about 15,000 people visit their nearest Emergency Department because of a decorating accident. That averages out to more than 250 people every day! Common injuries while decking the halls include broken bones, dislocated shoulders, and torn cartilage. Serious injuries include broken necks and worse.

According to Bill Cowley of Christmas Décor by Cowleys, “Many homeowners are not physically up to the task. They downplay the risks and overestimate their abilities long after retiring their running shoes. Add to that not having the right equipment, not following proper safety practices, inclement winter weather, and even DUI – Decorating Under the Influence – and you have a Christmas recipe for disaster.” Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Christian Balldin on his sports medicine blog offers some sage advice: “Use common sense and caution to stay safe. If you are uncomfortable on a ladder, the holidays are not the best time to push that comfort level.”

If you decide to do your own holiday decorating, follow these safety practices to minimize the chance of injury, whether indoors or on your roof:

• Use proper climbing equipment – Don’t stand on furniture to decorate. Chairs, counters, shelves, and tables, are not substitutes for ladders. Invest in a sturdy and reliable ladder or step stool that is designed for the required height.
• Use ladders safely – Decorate in pairs so someone is supporting the ladder or helping you balance on a step stool. Secure ladders on level ground with firmly planted gripped feet. Never stand on the top two ladder rungs and always keep both feet and one hand on the ladder. Stay balanced and don’t stretch. Always climb off the ladder and reposition it. Climbing up and down ladders is exhausting, but it beats a trip to the hospital.
• Aluminum and electricity don’t mix – Don’t string live lights. Because aluminum ladders conduct electricity, there is a risk of electrocution.
• Use holders or hooks to hang lights. Staples, nails, and tacks can cause electrical shorts.