Christmas Safety: Good Samaritan Shares Tips to Avoid Holiday ER Visits
KEARNEY, NE – While the spirit of Christmas fills the air with joy and celebration, it also quietly ushers in a less festive reality: a multitude of overlooked safety risks. Each year, thousands of preventable injuries disrupt holiday cheer, stemming from the very things that make the season bright – from festive decor and candles to increased holiday travel and new toys. In fact, this time of year is surprisingly hazardous, with holiday decorations alone sending an estimated 18,000 Americans to the emergency room annually.
To help families navigate the season safely, CHI Health Good Samaritan suggests the following tips to avoid a trip to the emergency room this Christmas:
Keep small decoration pieces out of reach of children (choking hazards)
Handle glass ornaments carefully (laceration hazards)
If using a ladder stay centered, don't overreach
Never leave candles, fireplaces, or stove-tops unattended
Store batteries away from extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, exits, and anything flammable
Follow age recommendations and check toys for small parts
Gift helmets with new scooters, bikes, and skateboards
Carry an emergency kit in your vehicle–blankets, first aid, jumper cables, flashlight, water, snacks, prescriptions, phone charger
“The holidays are a time for making cherished memories, not for emergency room visits,” says Tracy Rademacher, RN, Trauma Prevention Educator. “By being mindful of common hazards and taking simple preventative steps, most of these accidents are entirely avoidable. Our goal at Good Samaritan is to empower our community with the knowledge to enjoy this special time safely.”
Breakdown of key holiday safety concerns and statistics:
Holiday Decorating Safety: Holiday decoration-related injuries lead to an estimated 18,000 hospitalizations annually in the U.S., according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Accidents tend to decrease as Christmas approaches but rise again near New Year's Day when people start removing their decorations.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Research--Statistics/NEISS-Injury-Data
Fire Prevention: Home fires see a significant increase in December, with nearly half (49%) of these incidents being caused by candles, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Electrical distribution or lighting equipment is involved in 40% of home Christmas tree fires. Despite these decoration-related risks, the majority of home fires are still linked to cooking or alternative heat sources.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Dont-Be-Left-Out-in-the-Cold-This-Holiday-Season-with-Unsafe-Presents-Buy-from-Trusted-Sources
Toys Safety: Toy-related injuries lead to an estimated 154,700 emergency room visits for children under 12 in 2023, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Tragic fatalities involved various hazards, including choking or swallowing bouncy balls, magnets and batteries, as well as accidents involving riding toys and scooters.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Dont-Be-Left-Out-in-the-Cold-This-Holiday-Season-with-Unsafe-Presents-Buy-from-Trusted-Sources
Holiday Travel Safety: A record 122.4 million Americans are anticipated to travel at least 50 miles this Christmas, a 2.2% increase from 2024, according to the American Automobile Association.
https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/aaa-year-end-holiday-travel-forecast/