Decking the halls? Do so safely!

Now that Halloween is over, it is officially time to deck the halls in preparation for the holiday season. Emergency medicine physicians Drs. Katarzyna Kimmel and Victoria Gordon explain how you can decorate for the holidays without ending up in the emergency room from unexpected falls, cuts, burns and more.

General safety

Question: How should you safely use the ladder when decorating your home?
Answer: Dr. Katarzyna Kimmel: Always have an extra person to help spot and hold the ladder as you’re climbing up or down. This includes raising and lowering the ladder.
Christmas trees

Q: When it comes to decking your Douglas fir, real or fake, how can you ensure the tree is stable and secure?
A: Dr. Victoria Gordon: Use a tree stand! There are also straps you can use to mount to the wall if you are worried or are in a household where the tree is prone to being taken down/falling, such as with pets or small children.

KK: All trees should be placed in a Christmas tree stand or use the manufacturer’s recommendation. Also, give the tree a nice, firm shake to make sure it’s stable. Always try to keep the tree in the corner of a room and out of high-traffic areas.

Q: Should you avoid using glass ornaments in case they break?
A: KK: Glass ornaments are pretty, but they pose a huge safety hazard when they break. It’s best to use plastic, or if you must, hang the glass ornaments higher out of reach of children and animals.

Q: How far away should your tree be from heat sources?
A: VG: Your tree should be far enough away so that you’re not feeling a significant amount of the ambient heat from that source.

Q: If using a faux Douglas fir, should it be fire-resistant?
A: KK: Absolutely. Since many household items are made of synthetic materials, once a tree is ignited, the fire spreads quickly and efficiently to the whole house.

Q: Should you turn off the lights on your tree when going to sleep or leaving?
A: VG: Yes, turn off the lights on your tree when leaving for an extended amount of time. For sleeping, I would suggest having your lights set to a timer.

Holiday lights

Q: Should you inspect your holiday lights before hanging them around your house?
A: KK: Inspect your holiday lights every time before using them. Look for missing bulbs, broken bulbs and exposed internal wiring. You should also inspect the lights when putting them back for storage.

Q: What about overloading your circuits with plugs? Is this a risk?
A: VG: Use common sense when using your power strips. Don’t put more plugs than spaces, and don’t daisy chain power strips together.

KK: Try plugging your lights into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet/surge protector or use extension cords that have the correct voltage and amperage for your lights. This information can be found on the packaging for the lights or on the label attached to the lights.

Q: What about candles? Is it best to use the battery-operated ones to avoid a potential fire?
A: VG: Using candles is a personal preference and dependent on pets and small children.
KK: If you’re looking to have the aroma therapy, try using a wall outlet fragrance. If you must use candles, place them away from corners because the heat will concentrate in that area and can possibly set the drywall on fire.

Pearland firefighter and EMT Jake Purdy and CyFair firefighter Peter Hoeft helped contribute to this blog.

By Taylor Barnes