What are the most common holiday accidents?
The most common holiday accidents include falls while decorating, cooking fires, vehicle crashes, foodborne illness, and dog bites. Many can be prevented through simple safety precautions, while insurance may help reduce the financial impact when covered accidents occur.
Holiday accidents are more common than many people realize. Between decorating, cooking, traveling, hosting guests, and attending gatherings, many people take on activities they don't do as often during the rest of the year.
More activity often creates more opportunities for injuries and accidents. Understanding common holiday accidents and how to prevent them can help you enjoy the season more safely.
In this blog, we cover five common holiday accidents and steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Why Are Accidents More Common During the Holiday Season?
The holiday season can be one of the busiest times of the year. Many households are decorating, entertaining, traveling, cooking large meals, and welcoming friends and family into their homes.
While these traditions help make the season special, they can also create situations where injuries and accidents become more likely. Taking a few extra precautions can help you avoid common hazards and focus on enjoying the holidays. The good news is many of these risks are avoidable once you understand common holiday accidents and how to prevent them.
Falls While Decorating the House
While a slip or fall may sound like no big deal, fall-related injuries can result in everything from cuts and bruises to broken bones, head injuries, and worse. Decorating the house, putting up a Christmas tree, and hanging lights or other decorations from the roof are all reasons you might lose your footing and become injured in a fall during the holiday season.
Falls associated with holiday decorating are surprisingly common. Many decorating-related injuries involve ladders, roofs, and other elevated surfaces.
To help prevent fall-related injuries and similar holiday accidents:
- Use a sturdy ladder, and only on a level and stable surface.
- Arrange for someone to assist you with the decorations.
- Be especially careful when on a ladder or the roof. Don't overreach to save time. Stop and move the ladder to maintain your stability.
- Save the eggnog or other alcoholic beverages for after the decorating is done.
How Common Are Holiday Fires?
Cooking fires are one of the leading causes of house fires. The reason for many of those cooking fires? Unattended cooking – whether it's leaving food unattended on the stovetop or stepping away from the kitchen while food is being prepared.
Other potential causes of fires and burns around the holidays include dried-out Christmas trees, overloaded electrical circuits due to lighting needs, candles, and fireworks on New Year's Eve.
To help prevent fires, burns, and similar holiday accidents:
- Don't cook while distracted, and don't leave the kitchen while the stovetop is in use.
- Don't leave the home while food is in the oven.
- Keep lids nearby to quickly smother a small pot or pan fire.
- If you're using a turkey fryer, make sure the turkey is completely thawed before adding it to the oil. Keep the fryer at least 10 feet from the home.
- Keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher (ABC-rated) in the kitchen and other appropriate areas of the home.
- Ensure you have working smoke detectors located throughout the home.
- If you have a live Christmas tree, make sure it is regularly watered.
- If you choose an artificial tree, select one made from flame-retardant materials.
- Dispose of your Christmas tree promptly after the holiday season.
- Use outdoor lights and cords outside, and indoor lights and cords inside.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
The end-of-year holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving and extending through New Year's Day, is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Increased traffic volume, crowded parking lots, unfamiliar routes, and holiday gatherings can all contribute to an increased risk of vehicle accidents.
It doesn't help that many drivers are distracted, tired, rushed, or stressed during this time of year.
To help prevent vehicle crashes and similar holiday accidents:
- Buckle up every time.
- Drive defensively and be on the lookout for the unexpected.
- Avoid distractions while driving.
- Don't get behind the wheel, or let anyone else get behind the wheel, if impaired.
- Choose a designated driver ahead of time or use a rideshare service when needed.
The inconvenience of alternative transportation is small compared to the potential consequences of an impaired-driving crash.
Foodborne Illness
Many holiday gatherings are centered around food. Whether you're attending a formal dinner, serving buffet-style meals, or hosting a casual gathering, proper food handling remains important.
Any time food is not stored, prepared, or cooked properly, the risk of foodborne illness increases.
To help prevent food poisoning and similar holiday accidents:
- Don't eat perishables that have been sitting out for more than two hours.
- Don't eat raw foods such as cookie dough, raw eggs, or raw flour.
- When preparing a frozen turkey, thaw it completely and safely in the refrigerator.
- Cook foods to proper internal temperatures.
- Store perishable foods at temperatures below 40°F.
- Keep kitchen surfaces clean and clear.
- Wash your hands often throughout food preparation.
Raw flour is not treated to kill germs and has been linked to foodborne illnesses caused by bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella.
Why Do Dog Bites Increase During the Holidays
Dog bites and other pet-related incidents can become more common during the holidays. Added household activity, disruptions to routine, unfamiliar guests, decorations, and noise can all create stress for pets.
Even normally calm, friendly dogs can become overwhelmed when their environment suddenly changes.
To help prevent dog bites and similar holiday accidents:
- Give your dog access to a quiet room or separate space away from gatherings.
- Maintain feeding, exercise, and sleep schedules as closely as possible.
- Always ask an owner's permission before petting a dog.
- Supervise interactions between pets and children.
- Watch for signs of stress, anxiety, or discomfort.
Signs a dog may not want to be approached include licking its lips, turning away, stiff body posture, and wide-open eyes. Signs a dog is comfortable may include relaxed posture, approaching voluntarily, and leaning into attention.
How Insurance May Help After Holiday Accidents
Even when you take precautions, accidents can still happen. Understanding common holiday accidents and how to prevent them is important, but it's also helpful to understand how insurance may respond when something goes wrong.
Depending on the situation and your policy, insurance may help reduce the financial impact of certain holiday-related accidents and injuries.
For example, homeowners insurance, condo insurance, and renters insurance often include personal liability coverage and medical payments coverage, which may help if a guest experiences a covered injury in your home. Coverage for fire damage is also commonly included in homeowners and condo policies, while renters insurance may help protect personal belongings damaged by covered events.
Pet owners may also wish to discuss animal liability coverage options with their insurance professional. Auto insurance, watercraft insurance, and other policies may provide protection for covered accidents occurring during holiday travel and activities.
Because coverage varies by policy, reviewing your insurance before the holiday season can help you better understand the protection available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Accidents
Does homeowners insurance cover holiday fires?
Many homeowners insurance policies include coverage for fire damage caused by covered events, including fires that occur during the holiday season, subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions.
What happens if a guest is injured in my home?
Depending on your policy, personal liability coverage and medical payments coverage may help with covered injuries involving guests who are injured in your home.
Are dog bites covered by insurance?
Some homeowners, renters, and other liability policies may provide coverage for eligible dog-bite claims. Coverage varies by insurer, policy, and circumstances.
Why do car accidents increase during the holidays?
Car accidents often increase during the holiday season because of heavier traffic, longer trips, distracted driving, driver fatigue, and impaired driving.
How can you help prevent common holiday accidents?
Common holiday accidents can often be prevented through safe decorating practices, attentive cooking, defensive driving, proper food handling, and responsible pet management.
Need Help Reviewing Your Insurance Coverage?
Understanding common holiday accidents and how to prevent them can help you reduce risk during one of the busiest times of the year. Taking time to review your insurance coverage is another important step toward protecting yourself, your family, and your guests.
If you have questions about your current coverage or want to explore your options, The Windward Insurance Agency is here to help.
Get an online quote or call (866) 231-2433 to speak with a member of our team.
