HOLIDAY HAZARDS

Use lights approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Never connect more than three strands of incandescent lights together. Consider purchasing LED lights, which use less energy and don’t get as hot as traditional incandescent lights. Check each set of lights. Examine new and old lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. Do not use electric lights on a metallic tree. Check each extension cord. Make sure each is rated for the intended use and is in good condition. Do not use cords with cuts or signs of fraying. Check outdoor lights for labels. Look for labels indicating that the lights have been certified for outdoor use, and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected receptacle or a portable GFCI. Buying a live tree? Check for freshness. A fresh tree’s needles are hard to pull from branches, and the needles do not break when bent between your fingers. Place the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, vents and radiators. Be sure to monitor water levels daily, and keep the tree stand filled with water. Buying an artificial tree? Look for the label “fire resistant.” Although this label does not mean the tree will not catch fire, it does indicate that the tree is more resistant to burning. In 2012, the most frequently reported holiday decorating incidents seen in emergency departments involved falls (34 percent), lacerations (11 percent) and back strains (10 percent). The American Society for Surgery of the Hand reports that the majority of cuts on hands occur while opening gifts, cooking or carving. Do not cut toward yourself, and use proper tools. Surgeon Almaas Shaikh, M.D., trauma medical director at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, says each year before Halloween and continuing through December, her staff sees an increase in falls caused by holiday decorating. “The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, celebrate life, to be grateful, and reflect on what’s important,” Shaikh said. “They are also a time to appreciate the gift of health.” Shaikh offers these tips for putting up and taking down holiday lights: Use the buddy system: Holiday lights are a two-person job. One person should decorate, and the other should hold the ladder to make sure it’s secure. It’s also important to make sure the ladder is on steady ground. Put on a helmet: It may seem silly, but it will save you from serious injury if you fall and hit your head. Make sure you’re in good health: If you are uncomfortable or not used to climbing, consider calling a trained professional to help. Type of injury Cuts 23% Scrapes and bruises 17% Strains and sprains Fractu1r1e%s 12% 73 percent of those injured were under 15 years old. Area injured Leg 18% Other 14% More than a third of holiday decoratingrelated visits to emerrgency rooms were for falls from ladders There are 250 holidaydecorating injuries a day in the U.S Head/face 45%

Don’t give the gift of a trip to an emergency room. In 2015 an estimated 254,200 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency rooms.