Taking a fall
(iStockphoto)
Christmas lights hanging from ladder outside chimney
Nearly 6,000 victims of decorating-related falls head to emergency rooms each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Most of these accidents occur while hanging lights outside or placing ornaments atop Christmas trees. "We see people getting up on ladders for the first time in a year, and they lose their footing and fall," Stanton says. Most common are cuts, bruises, and broken bones, though tumbling from a roof onto, say, concrete, fences, or trees can be fatal. To protect yourself, always use a sturdy ladder—even indoors, since climbing on chairs, desks, and other furniture can be risky. Before stepping onto a ladder, make sure it's positioned on flat ground and that its rungs are dry. And only use it outdoors during daylight hours.
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ldhepcgd of AZ 9:05AM May 19, 2013
ubrxzstg of DE 8:57AM May 19, 2013