How to avoid a Christmas accident when putting up decorations

Hanging and enjoying Christmas decorations is not always a merry experience. According to the National Accident Helpline, 2.6 million people have toppled off a chair or ladder while hanging up decorations; 1 in 50 have fallen from the loft while retrieving the Christmas box; more than 1 in 40 have suffered an electric shock from badly wired festive lights; and you are more likely to die in a house fire over Christmas than at any other time of year.

Falls from ladders alone during the Christmas period account for about 6,000 hospital visits a year, says Rospa (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). With a bit more care, all could be avoided, says Steve Cole, the organization’s director of policy: “Accidents are preventable. That’s the whole point, they don’t have to happen.”

Here’s how to stay safe with your decorations this Christmas:

Falls

We fall from a ladder because we have not checked that it is fit for purpose or because we take daft risks while up it, often from being too lazy to dismount and move it as required. Even a fall from two feet off the ground can be serious if you land awkwardly, says Owen Simpson, managing director of Henchman, a designer of specialist ladders.

First, use a BS EN131 standard ladder, which will have undergone rigorous testing, says the Ladder Association. Select the right sized ladder for the job; i.e. stepladders for smaller tasks, extensions for heights. Ensure that your ladder’s stiles (sides), rungs and feet are not broken or loose. When in use, its feet must be placed evenly on a level, firm surface.

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) recommends leaning your ladder against a wall at a 75-degree angle so the base is positioned at one-quarter of the working length of the ladder: for every four feet of height, the base is one foot away from the wall. This prevents it from sliding out, keeps you balanced and keeps the ladder strong. Use a tripod ladder for an uneven surface.

Overreaching to the side or above is a major cause of losing your balance. “Ladders are very safe if they’re used within the guidelines of how they should be used, it’s when people push it beyond how it should be used that incidents happen,” says Simpson.

Never stand higher than three rungs from the top and keep one hand on the stile and both – sensibly shod – feet on the rung. “Your bellybutton must stay within the two stiles of the ladder. Ideally, keep your whole body within them,” says Simpson.

Never stand on a chair or stool to hang a decoration. They are not designed for it, and you can easily slip if in socks, slippers or bare feet. Avoid going up to the loft when alone in the house, or without a mobile phone to call for help.

Electric shocks

Malfunctioning lights, overloaded circuits and decorations/Christmas trees placed too close to heat can cause fires and electric shocks.

Christmas lights must carry a genuine British Standard mark or CE marking, so buy from a reputable UK retailer. Electrical Safety First, a campaigning charity, says that before use, discard damaged or broken sets of lights or any with loose wires. Never connect different lighting sets together. A blown bulb can cause other bulbs to overheat so change it quickly, with the power off and using the same type and rating of bulb as the original.

Ensure garden lights are designed for outside use and connected via a 30mA RCD protected socket which prevents electric shocks by cutting power if it detects a current leakage. For outdoor lighting, ensure plugs and transformers are plugged in indoors.

Fires

Never overload an extension lead by plugging in appliances that together exceed the maximum current rating of the lead (which can be found on the back/underneath the lead). Overloading can overheat the plug in the wall socket and start a fire. Only use one socket extension lead per socket and never plug an extension lead into another one. Use a multi-way bar extension lead rather than a block adaptor. This puts less strain on the wall socket, and some block adaptors do not have a fuse, increasing the risk of overloading and fires.

Ensure decorations and Christmas trees, whether real or artificial, are well away from a heat source, including electric lights, fireplaces, radiators, and candles.

“Be careful with real trees drying out over time, which makes them more flammable, so make sure you’re watering them daily,” says Cole (and unplug the lights first). Use LED lights because they give off less heat and turn them off overnight and when you are out or away.”

It’s important to make sure your tree is stable: a common hazard is when pets, especially cats, jump into a Christmas tree to get at a glittering bauble or string of tinsel and bring it toppling down. “The crucial thing is to secure a tree properly,” says Cole. “If it’s rooted, make sure it has a big enough pot.”

Avoid the common mistake of decorating a tree only on one side where the ornaments are visible, which unbalances it and makes it more liable to fall.

Pets or children eating decorations

Chocolate tree decorations are toxic to dogs if eaten, so do not leave pets alone with a tree with edible decorations.

“Be careful about small decorations such as baubles with young children, because they’re shiny and attractive to them, but they can be choking risk. Keep them out of reach of small hands and mouths,” says Cole. Small ornaments are choking risks, so place them higher on a tree and use bigger plastic or wooden decorations on lower branches.

Cuts from broken glass or tripping over wires

“Fragile baubles can break, causing cuts, so be careful when handling them,” says Cole.

“Slips and trips are also common, because you’ve got a combination of holiday clutter, decorations, cables, presents and more people than usual in the house,” he adds. “We don’t generally consider the additional clutter and people coming into our homes at Christmas, so make things as clutter-free as possible before the hoards descend. You’re busy preparing everything, but don’t rush, and make sure you give the tasks at hand the amount of time they require.”

Place cables along walls, under carpets and heavy objects and secure them with clips.

Back injuries

Lugging a heavy, unwieldy box of decorations down from the attic carries obvious risks.

Back injuries are caused by overreaching on a ladder or by moving heavy boxes – to avoid this, try storing decorations in smaller containers, rather than one big one, and remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight when picking up a box.

Cole advises building up core strength to help avoid injuries from losing your balance, falling and lifting.

Eye injuries

Hanging lights and decorations in the garden leaves you vulnerable to being poked in the eye by a wayward twig, especially at this time of year when such hazards are more difficult to spot.

Hang outdoor decorations in good weather and in daylight, says Cole. If putting lights in trees and shrubs, wear gloves and protective goggles to avoid a branch or sharp frond going into your eye.

Illustrations by James Yates