“It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year”
For 40 years, Andy Williams’ timeless classic has exemplified the holiday season for families throughout our country. As it should.
“This year alone, the CPSC together with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, seized more than 1.1 million dangerous or illegal toys”
The memories you make for your children of opening presents around the tree on Christmas morning will stay with them their entire lives. But in the joy of the season and the frenzy of gift-giving, it is more important than ever to “think safety” for you and for your children—in decorating, in cooking, and especially in toy gift-giving.
Decorating
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), in the 2022 holiday season, 14,800 people were treated in hospital emergency departments for holiday decorating-related injuries—160 injuries per day—with 40% of these injuries involving falls.
“While consumers can expect the products they purchase online directly from manufacturers to be as safe as those they buy in brick-and-mortar stores, the CPSC warns that purchasing from an online marketplace that services other sellers raises additional risks.”
Whenever using a ladder, remember to always maintain a 3-point (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) contact on the ladder when climbing. Keep your body near the middle of the step and always face the ladder while climbing. If you are going to use a ladder to hang your own decorations, take the time to review OSHA’s recommendations for portable ladder safety here: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/portable_ladder_qc.pdf.
Also, follow the CPSC’s safety recommendations for home decorating:
- Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water and look for the “fire resistant” label when buying an artificial tree.
- Never leave candles unattended. Place burning candles in sight, away from flammable items, and blow or snuff them out before leaving the room. Use flameless candles whenever possible.
- Never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights, and never overload electrical outlets.
Fire
As families gather to enjoy home-cooked holiday meals, don’t let the joyous occasion be marred by disaster.
Of the 360,800 residential fires that occur annually in the United States, more than half are caused by cooking fires. Never leave cooking food unattended on the stove or in the oven and, if you are going to deep fry a turkey, never use the fryer in an enclosed area like the garage or on the porch. Always use it outside and away from your home and other flammable materials.
Toys
Finally, thanks to online retailers like Amazon and other e-commerce providers, it has never been easier to find that perfect toy for your child. But, while consumers can expect the products they purchase online directly from manufacturers to be as safe as those they buy in brick-and-mortar stores, the CPSC warns that purchasing from an online marketplace that services other sellers raises additional risks.
CPSC Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric urges that, “Consumers need to educate themselves not only about what they buy, but where and from whom. It’s important not to sacrifice safety.”
In 2022, there were 11 deaths—the majority of which were the result of choking or asphyxiation associated with small parts, balls, or balloons—and an estimated 145,500 emergency department-treated injuries associated with toys for children 12 years and younger—20% of which were caused by non-motorized scooters for children 14 years of age and younger.
This year alone, the CPSC together with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, seized more than 1.1 million dangerous or illegal toys—101,000 of which were for lead content.
As a result, the CPSC urges consumers to do the following:
- Follow age guidance and other safety information on toy packaging and choose toys that match each child’s interests and abilities.
- Get safety gear, including helmets, for scooters and other riding toys–and make sure that children use them every time.
- Keep small balls and toys with small parts away from children younger than age 3 and keep deflated balloons away from children younger than age 8.
- Once the gifts are open, immediately discard plastic wrappings or other packaging on toys before they become dangerous playthings.
The McCune Law Group encourages everyone to take these basic precautions to ensure that our children will remember this special season for the rest of their lives for all the right reasons. Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season!
David C. Wright of the McCune Law Group specializes in Environmental Law, Product Liability, Personal Injury, and Wrongful Death case matters. Contact him at dcw@mccunewright.com or 909-757-1812.
