Christmas is a time to decorate your home with colorful characters and bright, twinkly lights. Just travel down your neighborhood and check out the huge inflatable decorations and multi-colored strings of lights. It’s very pretty, even when people go overboard. But what many people don’t realize is there’s a danger lying behind those blinking lights. According to the National Safety Council, there were an estimated 15,000 injuries involving holiday decorating were seen by emergency rooms in 2012. And if candles play a part of your decorations, you better watch out — the National Fire Protection Association says that two out of five holiday fires are started by candles.
So if you’re just about to put up your decorations, here’s a few tips to keep in mind:
- If you’re putting up an artificial tree, make sure it is fire resistant and is on a stable platform. If it’s a live tree, make sure to keep it hydrated. And try to keep your pets away — we’ve all seen the cat videos.
- Keep your tree away from all flammable objects such as heat and electrical sources. You would be amazed to see how quickly a tree goes up in smoke.
- If you’re putting up the lights outside your home, be careful of heights. Make sure you use a sturdy ladder or step stool. Also be aware of the weather — an icy roof can lead to disaster.
- Watch out for any broken ornaments, especially around your children.
- Keep any dangerous plants away from children and your pets.
- Watch those wires! They can cause a tumble.
If you are in need of legal assistance this holiday season, we’re here to help! Contact personal injury lawyer Anthony Carbone today for a free consultation.