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Not being careful during the holidays can result in a visit to the ho-ho-hospital.

Christmas isn’t the most injury-prone time of year. Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Halloween all have higher injury rates, according to a study.

But each year, thousands of people experience Christmas-time injuries and health issues. Roughly 18,400 people visit emergency rooms annually due to accidents involving Christmas decorations alone, according to USAFacts. The peak of those injuries is usually the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

That doesn’t even factor in additional injuries related to holiday car accidents, food poisoning, toy-related mishaps and more.

Christmas-time injuries can add up. For people enrolled in a large employer plan, the average emergency room visit costs $2,453, with $646 in out-of-pocket costs, according to a 2022 study.

Here are seven of the most common holiday injuries and accidents, according to UCLA Health:

  • Fall-related injuries during holiday decorating. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 160 decorating-related injuries occur every day in the U.S. during the holiday season. About half of those accidents result in broken bones, concussions and pulled muscles.
  • Toy-related injuries. In 2023, there were 10 deaths and an estimated 154,700 emergency room visits associated with toys for children 12 years and younger, according to the CPSC.
  • Fires associated with holiday decorations. Data from 2016 to 2018 found that, during the months of November and December, Christmas trees caused 100 fires and candles caused 1,000 fires in the U.S.
  • Strained back and neck. Carrying heavy packages, shopping bags and Christmas trees can lead to muscle strains during the holidays.
  • Automobile accidents. More than 600 people die on the road in the U.S. during the days surrounding Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, according to the National Safety Council. Drivers in holiday accidents are often alcohol-impaired, tired or distracted.
  • Cutting yourself. Opening packages and carving turkeys takes scissors and knives, which can result in lacerations.
  • Food- and alcohol-related issues. Food poisoning, allergic reactions and alcohol poisoning increase during the holidays.
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