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The holiday season should be filled with joy, but it often brings an overlooked danger: Christmas injuries. Thousands visit emergency rooms each year due to falls from ladders, burns from candles, electrical mishaps, and choking hazards. Young children, especially toddlers, face unique risks from small ornaments, wrapping materials, and unstable decorations. These injuries aren’t just accidents—they can involve negligence or unsafe products.
At Cannon Law, we reviewed a decade of data to uncover the most common holiday hazards and their implications for your family’s safety and legal rights. As a trusted Fort Collins personal injury lawyer, our team is committed to helping you understand these risks and take the right legal steps if an accident occurs.
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that thousands visit emergency departments each holiday season for decoration-related injuries. From 2008 to 2017, the numbers have been consistently high:
| Year | Male | Female | Total Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5,283 | 8,357 | 13,640 |
| 2009 | 6,864 | 6,688 | 13,552 |
| 2010 | 4,886 | 7,756 | 12,642 |
| 2011 | 5,777 | 7,354 | 13,131 |
| 2012 | 7,571 | 8,383 | 15,954 |
| 2013 | 4,229 | 5,806 | 10,035 |
| 2014 | 5,842 | 7,406 | 13,248 |
| 2015 | 5,311 | 7,877 | 13,188 |
| 2016 | 6,117 | 8,648 | 14,765 |
| 2017 | 5,661 | 8,465 | 14,126 |
Over the decade, more than 134,000 injuries occurred due to Christmas decorations alone, underscoring how common these accidents are during the festive season.
*These are the only Christmas-specific product categories in the system
Women experienced more decoration-related injuries than men during this period—an estimated 76,740 women compared to 57,541 men. Whether this reflects time spent decorating, caution levels, or a higher likelihood of seeking medical attention remains unclear.
Not all Christmas injuries are the same. Data shows the following categories:
Food Poisoning and Alcohol-Related Accidents: Linked to unsafe food handling or excessive drinking during gatherings.
| Diagnosis | Injuries |
|---|---|
| Laceration | 25,419 |
| Strain or Sprain | 22,780 |
| Contusion | 20,655 |
| Fracture | 15,692 |
| Ingestion | 10,947 |
| Internal Injury | 6,468 |
| Foreign Body | 5,092 |
| Nerve Damage | 1,708 |
| Puncture | 1,568 |
Feet: Often hurt by stepping on decorations or slipping on icy walkways.
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The CPSC’s observed data confirms that most injuries occur in December, peaking mid-month as decorating and celebrations reach full swing. Incidents rise again around New Year’s Day when people take decorations down, emphasizing the need for year-end caution.
While many injuries are treated and released, some require hospitalization. Out of thousands of reported cases, a small percentage resulted in severe trauma, and at least one fatality was linked to a ladder fall during holiday decorating.
Each and every case logged in the data comes with a narrative – a description of the incident. Here are a handful of examples of what these injuries look like:
| Date | Description of Incident |
|---|---|
| 12/31/17 | 33 Year Old Female Had A Box Of Christmas Decorations Fall Onto Head Sustained A Contusion To Scalp |
| 12/27/17 | 2 Year Old Male Bit Into A Glass Christmas Tree Ornament And Sustained A Lip Laceration |
| 12/26/17 | 5 Year Old Male Got Hit On Face By A Christmas Stocking Holder- Laceration. To Eyebrow Diagnosis: Right Eyebrow Laceration |
| 12/25/17 | Patient Tripped Over Christmas Train Hitting Her Head On Concrete Floor. Diagnosis: Scalp Laceration 83-Year-Old Female |
| 12/25/17 | 83 Year Old Female S/P Fall Putting Presents Under Xmas Treed Diagnosis: Closed Fracture L Distal Radius |
| 12/14/16 | 36 Evaluation Of L Foot Injury, Patient Sts Was Carrying Christmas Tree When She Fell Down 2 Steps, Injuring Left Foot Diagnosis: Foot Fracture, Left Closed |
| 12/13/16 | 45 Year Old Female Had A Slip And Fall Onto Chest Sustained A Contusion To Ribs Getting Down Christmas Decorations At Home |
| 12/18/15 | Left 3rd Finger Laceration /73 Year Old White Female At Home Was Helping With Nativity Scene & Accidentally Cut Her Finger With A Table Saw. |
| 12/6/15 | 27 Year Old Female Stood Up In Basement Striking Head On Corner Of Ductwork While getting Christmas Ornaments. |
| 12/3/15 | 50 Year Old Male Cut Finger On Wreath Hanger At Home Diagnosis: Lacerated Finger |
| 1/14/15 | 47 Year Old Male Taking Down Christmas Lights From Patient’s Home, Fell Off Ladder Onto Wall Diagnosis: Rib Fracture |
| 12/7/14 | 39 Year Old Male Hanging Christmas Lights On His Roof And Fell Off Onto Ehad Laceration To Scalp |
| 12/1/12 | 40 Year Old Female Felt Pop In Neck While Putting Up Christmas Tree At Home |
| 11/25/12 | 27 Year Old Male Cut Hand W/Box Cutter Opening Christmas Decorations. Diagnosis Lacerated Hand. |
| 12/23/11 | 48 Year Old Male – States Got Fb In Eye Today While Moving Christmas Lights In Attic |
| 12/19/11 | 19 Year Old Male Fell Off Of A 1 Ft Stool While Putting Up Christmas Tree Lights. |
| 12/17/11 | 6 Year Old Female Stocking Holder Fell On Her Head Diagnosis: Lacerated Scalp |
| 12/16/11 | 51 Year Old Female Standing On A Chair Hanging Christmas Decorations And Fell Fractured Lower Arm |
| 1/4/11 | 16 Year Old Male Kicked The Christmas Tree Stand, toe Contusion |
| 12/26/10 | 15 Year Old Female Had A Stocking Holder Fall Off A Shelf Into Face Lip Laceration |
| 1/12/10 | 31 Year Old Female Was Hit In Face With Box While Taking Down Christmas Decorations at Home/ Nasal Bone Fracture |
| 11/2/09 | 25 Year Old Female using Vacuum At Home And Setting Up Christmas Tree When Dev Low Back Pain Dx Exacerbation Of Low Back Pain |
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When another product was linked to an injury, ladders and step stools topped the list, with men experiencing these injuries more frequently than women. Other items included storage containers, chairs, and slippery floors, each contributing to seasonal hazards.
Injury demographics show that the majority of reported cases involved white individuals, followed by Black/African American, Hispanic, and other racial groups.
Holiday celebrations should be joyful, but Christmas injuries from falls, defective decorations, or unsafe property conditions can lead to serious harm. These cases often involve premises liability, product defects, or negligence. Our team is ready to protect your rights. Call 970-471-7170 for a free consultation—available 24/7.
Cannon Law provides trusted legal representation for injury victims throughout Northern Colorado, including:
No matter where your accident occurred, the firm is ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by our team of legal writers following strict editorial guidelines.
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