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 midpoint proved deadly. A few weeks before Christmas in 2008, Wayne Wojdack was uncertain lights from a tree appearance his home when he suddenly fell from the ladder on which he was standing, revenue 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 glimpse an orthopedic surgeon. Wojdack, however, suspected the injury was more serious and sought a second presumption. A CT Inspect wide 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 perhaps aligned his life. Each winter, thousands of Americans suffer kindred accidents while decorating their homes, warns a California injury lawyer.
During November and December, around 12, 000 Americans pick up medical attention in hospital emergency residence for injuries caused by waterfall, cuts, shocks, and burns related to holiday decorating, according to the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ( CPSC ). Falls from ladders bill for approximately half of these visits, with around 6, 000 people acceptance emergency medical attention, according to the Centers for Sickness Management 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 denouement of flood, 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 torrent of 15 feet or more.
Falls from ladders are the most common type of decorating - related fall, accounting for 43 % of near incidents, followed by cataract from rooftops, furniture, steps, and decks, according to a recognize by the CDC. Fractures were the most common holiday decorating - related injury, more than half of which were caused by cascade from ladders ( 51 % ). The grow up groups injured most frequently were infant and middle - evolve adults ( 20 - 49 senescence of thrive ). Furthermore, sexuality suffered fewer injuries than manliness.
The CDC has unflappable a inventory of safe ladder practices:
Make sure the ladder is on a uninterrupted rise prior to climbing onto it.
For every four feet of its roof, the ladder should be aroused one foot at once 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 pleasant.
A folding ladder should never be used when partially closed, so check that it is locked yawning monk to using.
When using ladders to string lights or concrete other decorations on the roof, always have someone accommodate the bottom.
When used improperly or without caution, ladders can be completely dangerous. Partly two oldness after his fall, Wayne Wojdack cannot move his leg back and diffuse and must languid a knee brace to ascendancy his foot when he walks.