Using Caution While Hanging Holiday Decorations

By Brandi Swieter

After Thanksgiving finishes, many people turn immediately to Christmas, playing Christmas music, shopping for gifts, enjoying holiday treats, and even getting out the tree and hanging decorations. Out of all of these, the decorations are by far the most hazardous, with people often falling and getting hurt while trying to get them hung. It is important that anyone starting on their holiday decorating use caution so they get the lights put up without ending the night in the emergency room.

Don’t Do It Alone

The most important thing to remember is not to hang the decorations alone. There should always be two people working on the project together so one can act as a spotter and be there to help when needed. If one person has to climb a ladder, for example, the other person should be at the bottom holding it steady, or handing up decorations so their friend or family member doesn’t have to carry everything up at once.

Get Everything Ready First

Decorations should not be grabbed sporadically. It can lead to falls and slips if people are leaning over to grab something particular out of a box while they’re already trying to get a display put up in a certain area. It is better to get everything ready first, and make sure all necessary items are grouped together and ready to be displayed before things start getting hung.

Avoid Decorating While Sick

Some people want to get the job of decorating over with so badly, they’ll even attempt to finish the project while they’re sick. This should be avoided at all costs. A sick person is far more likely to slip and fall if they happen to sneeze, cough, or otherwise become dizzy or shaky while attempting to hang items. The task should wait until healthy members of the household can get the job done.

Check Lights for Damaged Wires and Loose Connections

Another main problem while hanging lights stems from the lights themselves. Even if a person hangs them carefully, they can still cause disaster when a fire starts due to a loose connection or damaged wire. Check over all the lights carefully to be sure no damages are present before attempting to hang them.

Holiday decorating is a fun activity for many, but it isn’t always the safest. It is imperative that more people use caution when attempting to hang things up both indoors and out, especially if they want to avoid an emergency room visit. Falls happen each year due to negligence during holiday decorating.

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