12 Florida Christmas & New Year’s Safety Tips From Personal Injury Lawyers

Can you believe it’s already almost the end of 2021? Collectively for the world and for our nation, this has been another hard year, though many would say that things have been better in 2021 and are looking up for 2022. Because more families are going to be reunited this year and traveling for the holidays, the next two weeks may be much happier than last year’s, but also much more dangerous; more people participating in holiday activities generally means more accidents. As experienced Florida personal injury lawyers, we know how accident rates tend to spike during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, so we wanted to give you our best 12 Florida Christmas & New Year’s safety tips.

Here are 12 ways to keep you and your family safe amidst the excitement:

• • Road tripping outside Florida? Make sure your car is prepared.

Here in Florida, we’re lucky to have favorable road conditions (on the whole) pretty much year round….most Florida drivers aren’t accustomed to driving in sleet, snow, or ice, and their vehicles may not be prepared for the inclement weather they’ll encounter if they go far enough north. If you’re planning on visiting family out West or in the Northeast this Christmas and New Year’s, make sure that you have great windshield wipers, check your car’s fluid levels and brakes, get snow chains (if necessary) and an ice scraper/snow brush, and think of other things you may need to bring with you or change on your vehicle before you set out.

• • If you have a real tree, water it often and keep it away from heat sources (like candles).

Dry Christmas trees can burst into flames in an instant, and often do. Between 2015 and 2019, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that an annual average of 160 home fires were started by Christmas trees, resulting in an annual average of 2 deaths, 12 injuries, and $10 million+ in property damage. The National Safety Council recommends cutting off two inches of the truck to expose fresh wood for better water absorption, watering frequently, checking any lights on the tree to make sure everything is working properly, turning the tree off at night, and keeping it away from any heat sources.

• • Turn out all of your lights and candles before bed.

It can be tempting to want to leave your lighted garlands, candles, Christmas tree, and outdoor lights on all night long, because they’re so beautiful and it’s such a magical time of year (especially if you have young children!) but leaving lights on overnight can create a very real fire hazard. Electrical fires can occur at any moment, and lights that burn longer have a greater likelihood of starting a fire. Put all lights on a timer, and don’t leave the house or go to sleep with candles not fully blown out!

• • Use the right tool to open packages & presents.

According to Vio Security, opening presents is one of the most dangerous activities of the season – as many as 6,000 injuries, both minor and severe, are caused annually from people not using the right tools to open packages and gifts. Make sure to use a sharp knife safely – a dull knife is more likely to slip, and scissors may be awkward to handle depending on the package. Other tools may be more appropriate in different situations, but typically, a sharp knife used with great caution (and pointed away from you when slicing) is the best way to avoid injury.

• • Keep decorations out of reach of young children.

Especially if you are parenting an infant, toddler, or other young child, you need to be extra aware of potential dangers during the Christmas season, particularly when it comes to decorations. Don’t hang glass ornaments on the lower branches of the tree, where a young child could bump into, break, and get cut on an ornament or grab an ornament hook; place toxic plants like poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly berries up high where children can’t get to them; keep candles up high, and etc.

• • Don’t drive distracted, drunk, or drowsy.

This is probably one of the most important tips on this list, and the one that should go without saying, yet sadly, hundreds are killed every year during this time in accidents that involve drunk drivers, falling asleep at the wheel, or texting and driving. Many people who don’t normally drink will do so during the holidays, and may overestimate their body’s ability to tolerate alcohol; even a smaller amount than they have been taught not to drive with could prove to impair their judgement. The NHTSA found that 2-3 times more people die in alcohol-related collisions during the week between Christmas and New Year’s than other times of the year, and the U.S. Department of Transportattion found that 300 Americans die annually during this week; 27 people are killed every day in December because of a drunk driving crash. Texting and driving, or driving while fatigued, can prove to be just as dangerous; many people are busier and much more tired during the holidays, and distractions are everywhere. If you’re getting behind the wheel, make sure that you are sober and focused on getting everyone in your vehicle safely from point A to point B. If you can’t, take an Uber or stay the night where you’re at.

• • Check your extension cords and other lights for damage.

An estimated 63% of people utilize extension cords to power their holiday decorations; a massive increase in electrical usage means that shock injuries and electrocution occur more frequently during the holiday season. Inspect your extension cords and use them properly (never running them under a rug or attaching multiple cords to each other!). Keep plugs away from water sources and off of the ground!

• • Declutter the kitchen; turn pots & pan handles inward.

The kitchen can be one of the most dangerous places during the holidays, but there are ways to ensure a safe and healthy meal! First off, try to keep everyone who is not cooking out of the kitchen – less people means more room to move around and less accidents. Set timers; turn off all appliances before eating. Make sure there’s nothing o the floor to trip over, and that all pots and pan handles are turned inward so that there’s less risk of knocking boiling water or food over. Keep raw meat and utensils/plates that interact with it away from the other food, utensils, and plates.

• • Check toys for small, breakable, or removable parts.

If someone else is getting your small child a Christmas gift, make sure that it does not include small parts or batteries that could pose a choking hazard. Thousands of children are seriously injured in toy-related accidents every single year, mostly during the holidays.

• • Follow ladder safety guidelines; don’t use furniture as a ladder.

The CDC reported that between 2000 – 2003, almost 18,000 people were treated in ERs for holiday-decorating related falls. 43% of these were caused by falls from ladders. Use ladders as intended; make sure you have the right shoes, have someone nearby to watch you or hold the ladder, and don’t step above the rungs indicated for use.

• • Look both ways before crossing a street or parking lot; only cross at clearly marked pedestrian crosswalks.

More people are out on the roads during the week leading up to Christmas and the week after, taking last minute shopping trips, picking up groceries for big meals, delivering gifts, seeing family, meeting friends. Malls and parking lots especially are likely to be more crowded; as it gets darker in December, and as people are more stressed, it’s important to be responsible as a driver and pedestrian. If you are shopping or walking, make sure cars can easily see you, and don’t cross in unexpected places. If you are a driver, drive slowly through pedestrian areas and ensure you stop at crosswalks if pedestrians are present.

• • Don’t let packages in the backseat obstruct your vision or your back window.

Visibility is important during the holiday season, particularly at night! Make sure that if you’re transporting large packages, they don’t take up the entire backseat or passenger seat so that you can’t see out of your rearview mirror or side mirrors.

The Florida Law Group encourages you to follow these 12 Florida Christmas & New Year’s safety tips in order to minimize your & your family’s personal risk and potentially your liability, if you are having guests in your home or driving on the roads. We hope that you have a safe and healthy holiday! Unfortunately, accidents are common around this time of year; if you or a loved one is injured in a Christmas or New Year’s accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, call our law office immediately to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options and how we can assist you. We have helped clients win maximum compensation for their injuries (over $1 billion dollars to date!), and we believe that we can do the same for you if needed. You’ll never pay us unless we win your case!