California Injury Lawyer Offers Safety Suggestions For Stringing Christmas Lights

California Injury Lawyer Offers Safety Suggestions For Stringing Christmas Lights

For one Sierra Madre man, decorating for the holidays halfway proved deadly. A few weeks before Christmas in 2008, Wayne Wojdack was uncertain lights from a tree frontage his home when he suddenly fell from the ladder on which he was standing, haul his leg in one of the rungs on his way down. The doctor at the emergency room told him he had dislocated his knee and recommended he see an orthopedic surgeon. Wojdack, however, suspected the injury was more serious and sought a second eye. A CT Search naked a tear in the leg ' s artery. He was moved to Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, where he underwent emergency surgery. His insistence on further testing prevented gangrene from developing, which could have claimed his leg—and feasibly polished his life. Each winter, thousands of Americans suffer reciprocal accidents while decorating their homes, warns a California injury lawyer.
During November and December, around 12, 000 Americans derive medical attention in hospital emergency quarters for injuries caused by flood, cuts, shocks, and burns related to holiday decorating, according to the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ( CPSC ). Torrent from ladders statement for approximately half of these visits, with around 6, 000 people recipient emergency medical attention, according to the Centers for Indisposition Guidance and Prevention ( CDC ).
At Huntington Hospital, where Wojdack was rushed for the torn artery in his leg, 62 % of all emergency room injuries treated throughout the holiday season are the proceeds of cascade, according to the hospital ' s injury prevention coordinator with trauma services. In December 2009, 85 patients were treated in the hospital ' s emergency room for injuries from shower of 15 feet or more.
Falls from ladders are the most common type of decorating - related fall, accounting for 43 % of comparable incidents, followed by deluge from rooftops, furniture, steps, and decks, according to a toss around by the CDC. Fractures were the most common holiday decorating - related injury, more than half of which were caused by deluge from ladders ( 51 % ). The evolve groups injured most frequently were budding and middle - mellow adults ( 20 - 49 elderliness of maturate ). Besides, men suffered fewer injuries than men.
The CDC has placid a register of safe ladder practices:
Make genuine the ladder is on a plane attend prior to climbing onto it.
For every four feet of its eminence, the ladder should be discomposed one foot pdq from the wall.
If you cannot reach something, move the ladder.
Do not stand on the ladder ' s top two rungs.
Keep the area around the top and bottom of the ladder crystal.
A folding ladder should never be used when partially closed, so check that it is locked yawning brother to using.
When using ladders to string lights or concrete other decorations on the roof, always have someone dock the bottom.
When used improperly or without caution, ladders can be totally dangerous. Halfway two age after his fall, Wayne Wojdack cannot move his leg back and scatter and must flagging a knee brace to government his foot when he walks.