Christmas lights are going up all over Calgary, but two Calgary doctors are warning people to be careful if they are putting up the lights themselves.
New research from the Foothills Medical Centre shows that in the past 10 years, at least 40 people were seriously hurt falling while they were hanging lights.
The injuries were all life-threatening and ultimately two people died.
Dr. Chad Ball, a trauma surgeon at the Foothills said “we were actually quite surprised at the number and the severity of the injuries we tracked.”
Dr. Michael Driedger, a surgical resident at the Foothills hospital said “about 13 per cent had to be transferred to a long-term care facility and two people passed away from their injuries. “
Two-thirds of those who were injured fell from a ladder; the other one-third fell from a roof. All but one of the 40 injured patients in the study were men.
Dr. Ball adds that the group of 40 injured patients is only the tip of the iceberg, many other people were hurt, but they weren’t considered to have life-threatening injuries.
Dr. Ball estimates there are hundreds of other Calgarians who broke a bone, or suffered a concussion while stringing Christmas lights on their homes, but this latest research focused on traumatic injury cases only.
Alberta Health Services offered this advice:
Minimize the risks of falling while installing Christmas lights by observing these safety precautions:
· Understand the risks involved in what you’re undertaking and make a plan to manage them.
· Work with a partner.
· Ensure footwear has a good grip.
· Avoid installing lights in icy or inclement conditions.
· Use a high-quality, sturdy ladder appropriate to the height.
· Move the ladder as required rather than overreaching.
· Make sure the ladder is securely positioned at all times and braced by a partner.
· Be aware of maintaining your balance at all times.
