A CDC report published in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report says that approximately 5,800 Americans will end up in the ED this holiday season to be treated for falls that occur while hanging holiday ornaments and decorating Christmas trees. The CDC estimates that “decorating-related injuries” account for approximately 1% of the 1.9 million injuries caused by falling between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31 of each year and that, during the past three holiday seasons, there have been approximately 17,465 injuries caused by decorating-related falls. The report also finds that most of the accidents occur among adults ages 20 to 49 and that men are 40% more likely to sustain such an injury; in addition, nearly one-third of the reported injuries were fractures, half of which are caused by falls from ladders. The CDC urges people to be “more careful” when decorating, noting that many of the holiday-related injuries are preventable (Reuters Health, 12/9).
