13 Ways the Holidays Can Kill You

The holidays are traditionally a time to kick back at home with the family and put depressing thoughts—like death, for example—aside in exchange for fuzzier feelings of comfort and joy. Unfortunately, the Grim Reaper is not one to take a holiday, even if it's Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year's Eve. His handiwork often manifests itself in some of our favorite holiday home traditions, too, from living room Christmas trees, which catch fire and kill about 15 of us each year, to backyard sledding, which sends more than 33,000 of us to the hospital annually. To make sure Death doesn't nab a seat at your holiday table this year, we took a look at the different ways he tries to sideline this most wonderful time of the year.__Keith Pandolfi

• 1. Christmas Tree Fires

  

  You'd think by now we'd have this whole Christmas tree safety thing down. But each year, hundreds of house fires start at the Christmas tree, resulting in about 15 deaths and $13 million in property damage. You can avoid tannenbaum tragedies by taking some very simple precautions, such as selecting a fresh tree, watering it once a day, and keeping it away from fireplaces and heating fixtures. MORE: Fire Safety and Prevention Checklist

• 2. Lighting Disasters

  

  Outdoing our neighbors with Clark Griswold–like holiday lighting displays is as American as greasy fast food and suburban sprawl. Just try not to make house fires a part of your annual holiday tradition. Avoid Christmastime conflagrations with simple measures, such as using indoor lights inside and outdoor lights outside, checking for cracked or broken sockets and frayed wires, and limiting yourself to three strands of lights per extension cord. During the two months surrounding the holiday season, more than 14,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to holiday decorating each year. MORE: Holiday Decorations You Can Probably See From Outer Space

• 3. Poisonous Plants

  

  Oh by gosh, by golly, it turns out that holly and mistletoe can actually kill you. The pretty red berries of the holly plant are extremely poisonous, as are mistletoe's toxic berries, leaves, and stems. Keep these plants—as well as Jerusalem cherries and bittersweet—well out of reach of children, as well as your pets. MORE: 12 Deadliest Garden Plants

• 4. Chimney and Hearth Fires

  

  Hanging the stockings by the chimney with care is a well-known Christmas tradition. But use just as much care when firing up your fireplace this holiday season. On average, fires in and around a chimney or fireplace occur more than 25,000 times each year, leading to 10 deaths. So before you gather 'round the hearth, make sure your damper is open, and cover your fireplace with a protective screen or grate. Also, don't place your Christmas tree anywhere near the fireplace, and, as tempting as it might be on Christmas morning, don't toss ripped-up wrapping paper into the fireplace; it may create enough sparks and embers to ignite a blaze. MORE: 7 Fireplace Safety Musts

• 5. Highway Accidents

  

  Unfortunately, sometimes the holidays entail leaving the safety and comforts of home to visit family in their abodes. So, whether you're driving over the river and through the woods—or taking the interstate—to grandmother's house this holiday season, be sure to proceed with caution. A lethal combination of drunk driving, wintry weather conditions, and road-weary travelers results in approximately 400 highway deaths each year between December 24 and December 28, and the number rises again on New Year's Eve. So if you must take to the road around the holidays, figure out who will be your designated driver now. Better yet, take a cab. MORE: See the rest of the 13 Ways the Holidays Can Kill You at thisoldhouse.com