Common Christmas Holiday Accidents (and How to Prevent Them)

 

The Christmas season is fun, but it also adds new risks. People decorate, cook more, travel more, drink more at parties, and rush to finish errands. That mix can lead to falls, fires, burns, cuts, strains, food poisoning, and injuries from toys and gifts. Emergency rooms often see a seasonal rise in these problems, especially from decorating accidents and winter slips. UCLA Health+2U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+2

The good news: most holiday injuries are preventable. With a few simple habits—safer lifting, safer cooking, safer decorating, and safer driving—you can lower your risk a lot.

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Falls: Decorating, Shopping, and Icy Paths

Falls are one of the biggest holiday problems. Ladder falls happen when people hang lights, place decorations, or reach for high shelves. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported about 160 decorating-related injuries per day during the holiday season, and nearly half involve falls. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

Winter weather adds another risk: icy sidewalks, wet entryways, and dark driveways. Even a short walk can turn into a slip-and-fall. Victoria ER | 24 hour emergency center.+1

Common fall situations

• Climbing ladders to hang lights or place decorations UCLA Health+1

• Carrying heavy boxes up and down stairs

• Slipping on ice, snow, or wet floors near doorways Elite Learning+1

• Tripping over cords, clutter, gift bags, or toys on the floor Victoria ER | 24 hour emergency center.

Fall-prevention tips

• Use a stable ladder on level ground and have someone spot you. UCLA Health+1

• Don’t overreach—move the ladder instead. Elite Learning

• Keep cords out of walkways and tape them down when needed. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

• Clear ice/snow quickly; use traction (salt/sand) and wear shoes with grip. Elite Learning+1

• Turn on outside lights early so steps and sidewalks are easier to see.

If someone falls

• If there is head, neck, or back pain—or confusion, severe headache, weakness, or numbness—treat it as urgent and seek emergency care.

• Avoid forcing someone to “walk it off” if they may be seriously hurt.

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Fires: Trees, Lights, Candles, and Overloaded Outlets

Holiday fires often start from:

• Dry Christmas trees

• Candles left unattended

• Faulty lights or overloaded outlets

• Cooking distractions UCLA Health+1

UCLA Health summarizes how extra cooking, candles, and outlets can increase fire risk, and shares data on holiday-season fires linked to trees and candles. UCLA Health

Fire-prevention basics

• Water live trees daily; choose “fire-resistant” artificial trees when possible. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

• Never leave candles unattended; consider flameless candles. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

• Don’t overload outlets; inspect cords for damage and replace frayed wires. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

• Keep trees away from fireplaces, heaters, and space heaters. Elite Learning

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Burns: Cooking, Hot Liquids, and Hot Decorations

Holiday cooking brings more burns and scalds—especially from ovens, boiling water, hot trays, and oil. Deep-frying (like turkey frying) can be especially dangerous due to hot oil splashes and grease fires. Elite Learning+1

High-risk burn situations

• Carrying hot pots or trays while people crowd the kitchen Elite Learning

• Boiling liquids and steam burns

• Deep fryers and hot oil Elite Learning+1

• Touching hot bulbs or decorations that heat up

Burn-prevention tips

• Keep pot handles turned inward; use oven mitts and stable trays. Elite Learning

• Keep walkways clear when carrying hot food. Elite Learning

• Never leave cooking unattended (on the stovetop or in the oven). CDC+1

• If frying, do it outdoors, away from buildings, and never in a garage or on a porch. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

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Cuts: Wrapping, Knives, and Broken Ornaments

Cuts happen in the kitchen (knife nicks), while opening packaging, and during decorating (broken ornaments, sharp hooks, and tangled cords). Elite Learning+2Victoria ER | 24 hour emergency center.+2

Common cut risks

• Rushing while chopping or carving Elite Learning

• Scissors or box cutters while wrapping gifts Elite Learning

• Broken glass ornaments and sharp decoration pieces Victoria ER | 24 hour emergency center.+1

Cut-prevention tips

• Slow down during food prep; cut on a stable surface. Elite Learning

• Keep your body away from packages when wrapping or opening them. Elite Learning

• Sweep up broken ornament pieces right away (including tiny shards). Victoria ER | 24 hour emergency center.

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Strains and Overexertion: Lifting Trees, Boxes, and Heavy Bags

Holiday lifting is sneaky. People lift boxes from awkward angles, twist while carrying decorations, and haul heavy grocery bags. UCLA Health even calls out a strained back and neck as a common holiday issue. UCLA Health

A physical therapist from Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center emphasizes that bending and twisting while lifting can lead to serious back strain and shares simple lifting cues, such as widening your stance and lifting with your hips and knees. Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

Overexertion hot spots

• Carrying trees and storage bins

• Lifting while twisting (especially on stairs) Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

• Long days of decorating or cleaning without breaks

Strain-prevention tips

• “Lift with your legs,” not your back (bend hips and knees). UCLA Health+1

• Keep the load close to your body. Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

• Avoid twisting while holding weight—pivot your feet instead. Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

• Take short breaks every 30–60 minutes when doing long projects.

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Alcohol-Related Incidents: Falls, Fights, and Bad Decisions

Alcohol can lower coordination and judgment. That increases the risk of falls, cuts, burns, and other injuries. St. John Ambulance notes that holiday ER visits commonly involve falls, burns/scalds, cuts, electric shocks, and alcohol-related injuries or intoxication. sja.org.uk

Alcohol can also worsen certain heart rhythm issues in some people (sometimes discussed as “holiday heart” in research roundups). The Journalist’s Resource

Simple safety moves

• Eat before drinking and pace yourself.

• Don’t climb ladders or handle sharp tools after drinking.

• Plan a safe ride home before the party starts.

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Food Poisoning: Big Meals, Leftovers, and Cross-Contamination

Food poisoning risk goes up when people cook in large batches, leave food out too long, or reheat leftovers incorrectly. sja.org.uk+1

The CDC warns that bacteria grow quickly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F and recommends not leaving perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if it’s above 90°F). CDC
FoodSafety.gov also provides storage guidance, including common “3 to 4 days” refrigerator timelines for many prepared foods. FoodSafety.gov+1

Food safety checklist

• Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours. CDC+1

• Keep the fridge at 40°F or below. CDC+1

• Reheat leftovers to 165°F (use a thermometer if possible). CDC+1

• Use cooked leftovers within about 4 days, or freeze sooner. FoodSafety.gov+1

• Use separate cutting boards/plates for raw meat vs. ready-to-eat foods.

When to get medical help for possible food poisoning

• Signs of dehydration (very dry mouth, dizziness, fainting)

• Severe belly pain, high fever, blood in stool, or symptoms that don’t improve

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Toy and Gift Injuries: Choking, Batteries, Magnets, Falls

Toys are meant to be fun, but injuries happen every year. UCLA Health notes that emergency departments treated nearly 150,000 toy-related injuries in children age 14 and under in 2020, and riding toys/scooters were a major contributor. UCLA Health

The CPSC warns about choking hazards from small parts/balls, as well as serious ingestion risks from button/coin batteries and high-powered magnets. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Toy and gift safety tips

• Match toys to the child’s age and ability (follow package guidance). UCLA Health

• Keep small parts away from children under 3 (and supervise older kids too). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

• Lock up button batteries and magnets—treat ingestion as an emergency. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

• Helmets and protective gear for scooters, bikes, hoverboards, and skates. UCLA Health

• Clean up packaging quickly (plastic wrap, ties, and foam can cause choking or trips). UCLA Health

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Driving Dangers: Distracted and Impaired Driving Increases

Holiday driving risk rises because roads get busier, people feel rushed, and celebrations often include alcohol. AAA projects 122.4 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles over the year-end holiday period (Dec 20–Jan 1), with 109.5 million traveling by car. More cars usually mean more chances for crashes. AAA Newsroom

NHTSA reports that in December 2023, 1,038 people died in drunk-driving traffic crashes, and from 2019 to 2023, there were more than 4,931 deaths in drunk-driving crashes during December. NHTSA

Law-firm safety summaries also commonly highlight holiday distracted driving (GPS, texting, looking at lights) and drunk driving spikes. D’Amore Law Group

Safer holiday driving

• If you drink, don’t drive—plan a sober ride.

• Put phones away; set GPS before you start driving.

• Leave early so you don’t speed or take risks.

• If the weather is bad, slow down and increase following distance.

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How Integrative Chiropractic + NP Care Can Help (Recovery and Prevention)

When holiday injuries occur, many people need more than one type of support—especially if pain lingers, daily function declines, or an old condition flares.

Clinical observations from Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC (integrated model)
In Dr. Jimenez’s integrated setting, chiropractic and nurse practitioner scopes work together. His clinic describes coordinated care that can include chiropractic adjustments, rehab guidance, medication management when appropriate, and broader health strategies—plus telemedicine follow-ups for injuries when useful. El Paso, TX Doctor Of Chiropractic
His injury-focused pages also describe dual-scope evaluation, the use of advanced imaging (as needed), and medical documentation in personal injury cases. El Paso, TX Doctor Of Chiropractic

How the team approach supports holiday injuries

• Spinal/joint pain after falls or lifting: restoring motion, reducing joint stiffness, and guiding safer movement patterns (case-by-case). El Paso, TX Doctor Of Chiropractic

• Muscle strains and tightness: soft tissue care (manual therapy) and rehab exercises to rebuild strength and control. El Paso, TX Doctor Of Chiropractic+1

• Whole-person recovery: sleep, stress load, hydration, and nutrition support—especially after heavy holiday eating or disrupted routines. El Paso, TX Doctor Of Chiropractic

• Underlying conditions: NP-led review of risk factors (like balance issues, neuropathy, blood pressure swings, or medication side effects that increase fall risk). El Paso, TX Doctor Of Chiropractic

• Follow-up and monitoring: telemedicine check-ins can help adjust a plan, track symptoms, and coordinate next steps. El Paso, TX Doctor Of Chiropractic

Prevention support that often helps

• Quick posture and lifting coaching for decorating season Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center+1

• A simple home program (mobility + core + balance)

• Nutrition strategies to reduce reflux, bloating, and “heavy meal” fatigue (which can also affect alertness)

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Quick “Holiday Safety” Checklist

Decorating

• Stable ladder + spotter UCLA Health+1

• Cords out of walkways U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

• Don’t overload outlets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Cooking

• Don’t leave cooking unattended U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission+1

• Keep kids/pets out of the kitchen when busy Elite Learning

• Refrigerate food within 2 hours CDC

Gifts and toys

• Match age guidance UCLA Health

• Watch small parts, magnets, and button batteries U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Driving

• No impaired driving NHTSA

• Plan for heavy travel days AAA Newsroom

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Medical Disclaimer

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. If you think you have a serious injury (head injury, severe pain, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, weakness/numbness, or signs of dehydration), seek urgent or emergency care right away.

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References

• 7 common holiday injuries and accidents (and how to avoid them) — UCLA Health (2021)

• Happy Holidays Start with Safety — CPSC (2025)

• CPSC Reminds Early Holiday Shoppers to Follow These Top Safety Tips — CPSC (2023)

• Drive Sober This December — NHTSA (n.d.)

• Preventing Food Poisoning — CDC (2025)

• People at Risk of Food Poisoning — FoodSafety.gov (2025)

• Cold Food Storage Chart — FoodSafety.gov (2023)

• Year-End Holiday Travel Expected to Set New Record — AAA Newsroom (2025)

• Seasonal holiday injuries: A research roundup — The Journalist’s Resource (2023)

• Tinsel & Trauma: Hazardous Christmas Statistics — St John Ambulance (n.d.)

• 10 Common Holiday Injuries and How to Avoid Them — Elite Learning (2025)

• Holiday Back Safety Tips: Stay Injury-Free During the Festive Season — PVHMC (2024)

• Holiday injury prevention tips — Victoria ER (n.d.)

• What Are the Most Common Christmas-Related Injuries? — D’Amore Law Group (n.d.)

• Telemedicine Personal Injury Care in El Paso — Dr. Alex Jimenez (n.d.)

• El Paso Injury Chiropractor: Your Recovery Partner — Dr. Alex Jimenez (n.d.)

• Overtraining the Core and Chiropractic Care in El Paso — Dr. Alex Jimenez (n.d.)