Avoid Holiday Injuries
December 19, 2008, 11:02 AM ET
• 1 min read
Dec. 20 -- (HealthDay News) -- Decorating for the holiday season should be plenty of fun.
But hanging those decorations -- especially if a ladder or step-stool is involved -- can take the jolliness right out of the holidays if you fall.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these holiday decorating ideas:
Hold off on the cocktails until after the decorating is done.Use a shorter ladder or step-stool when possible. An extension ladder may be your best bet for outdoor or high decorating jobs.Never put more weight on the ladder than it can hold. Also, clean and inspect the ladder before use to make sure nothing is loose or broken.Make sure the ladder sits on a sturdy and even surface.Don't stand on a piece of furniture to put up a decoration.Always wear shoes or sneakers, and make sure the laces are securely tied.Don't move anything heavy or awkward by yourself. Find someone to help you.