Avoiding Fire Injuries During the Holiday Season

While the winter holidays are the most festive time of year, they can quickly become a nightmare if you or someone you know suffers a serious burn injury. An increase in elaborate holiday cooking and baking, flammable holiday decorations, and the increased use of candles and fireplaces leads to a higher rate of house fires and burn injuries during this time of year. 

Below, the burn injury attorneys at Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo detail the most common causes of house fires during the winter holidays and what you should do if you suffer a burn injury or house fire due to someone else’s negligence.

Common Causes for Fires During the Holiday Season

According to Stony Brook Medicine, the holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for the Suffolk County Firefighters Burn Center. Steven Sandoval, MD, assistant professor of surgery and medical director of the burn center, stated that “between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, we see a significant increase in patients coming in with burns.” 

While house fires can happen any time of year, the most common causes of house fires during the winter holidays include:

• Kitchen fires due to holiday cooking
• Fires caused by holiday decorations
• Fires from candles
• Fires caused by unattended fireplaces

Many seemingly harmless holiday activities, such as decorating the tree with string lights, baking cookies, or lighting candles around the house, can lead to major house fires and life-threatening injuries if there is a malfunction. 

Tips for Prevention

While not every accident can be prevented, below are steps you can take to minimize your risk of house fires as much as possible:

• If you’re purchasing a fake Christmas tree, look for one that is fire resistant
• If your food has burned, avoid carrying it outside, as this can lead to dangerous spills that lead to burns
• Keep children away from the cooking as much as possible
• If an oven fire occurs, keep the oven door closed. Do not open the door if there are flames inside the oven.
• Do not leave cooking, lit candles or active fireplaces unattended.

Coming in contact with flames or hot liquids can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries. To review the three different types of burns and the proper steps for treating and seeking medical care for each, read our article, “Can I Take Legal Action if I Suffer a Burn Injury in the Workplace?”

Suffered a Burn Injury During the Holidays Due to Negligence? Contact SPBMCC

Joyful holiday celebrations can quickly turn tragic if proper fire prevention is not taken. The attorneys at SPBMCC urge you and your loved ones to take precautions when decorating the home and preparing the holiday feast. It’s also important to remember that you may be eligible to take legal action if your house fire or burn injury was the result of someone else’s negligent behavior. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury as a result of a preventable fire caused by the recklessness of another, call (212)-732-9000 today or fill out the form below.