Valued Voice

The holiday season has begun! While decorating is one of the best ways to get into the festive spirit, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates more than 5,800 injuries per year occur from holiday decorating. The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission found that in 2023, there were about 160 decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season. Among these decoration injuries, almost 50% were incidents involving a fall. In 2023, roughly 14,900 patients were seen in emergency departments due to decorating-related injuries. Most injuries associated with celebrating the holidays can be prevented, so remember to put safety into practice while purchasing toys for children, cooking that holiday feast or decorating your home.

The WHA Information Center analyzed holiday injury claims from January 2022 through June 2025, including things such as falls from trees, electrocution and falls on or from a ladder. Emergency department visits accounted for 46% of total holiday-related injury visits. The average age of a person visiting the emergency department for a holiday-related injury was 55 years old. La Crosse County saw the highest number of visits for a holiday related injury in our state, and more females than males went to the emergency room for holiday-related injuries. 

Here are some safety tips to make your holiday season:

• Keep your Christmas tree watered and away from heat sources.
• Ensure breakable and sharp decorations are kept out of reach of small children.
• When using a ladder, place it on firm and level ground. Have another person hold and keep the ladder steady when in use.
• Place burning candles away from flammable objects and on a stable surface. 
• Check holiday lights for damage and never overload electrical outlets.
• Follow age guidance and other safety information on toy packaging and choose toys that match each child's interests and abilities.