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WINTER AND HOLIDAY SAFETY |
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The holidays are a time to celebrate, give
thanks, and reflect. They are also a time to pay special attention
to your health and safety.1
The winter and holiday season can present special
challenges to your family’s health and safety, including fires,
carbon monoxide poisoning, motor vehicle injuries, and others.
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TABLE 1: DEATHS PER 100,000
POPULATION
by Selected Causes and by Race and Hispanic Origin. |
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Race & Hispanic
Origin |
Residential Fire Deaths
* |
Carbon Monoxide Deaths
** |
Motor Vehicle -Related Deaths,
2003 *** |
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All Populations |
1.0 |
Not
Available |
14.8 |
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White |
0.8 |
Not
Available |
15.1 |
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Black |
2.2 |
Not
Available |
14.6 |
American Indian/
Alaska Native |
0.9 |
Not
Available |
27.3 |
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Asian American |
0.3 |
Not Available |
8.3 |
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Hispanic/Latino |
0.6 |
0.12 |
14.8 |
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Not Hispanic |
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White |
0.9 |
0.17 |
14.9 |
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Black |
2.2 |
0.17 |
15.0 |
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Sources:
* WISQARS ** CDC/MMWR
***NCIPC |
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RESIDENTIAL FIRES |
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Deaths from fires and burns are the fifth most common cause of
unintentional injury deaths in the United States and the third
leading cause of fatal home injury.2
Most residential fires occur during December through March -- a
period of colder weather and longer darkness.3
House fires during the winter holiday season kill 500 and injure
2,000 people, and cause more than $500 million in damage.4 |
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In 2003, African Americans had the highest death rate from residential
fires: 2.2 per 100,000 population. Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders had the lowest death rate from residential fires: 0.3 per
100,000 population, a relative disparity rate of 633%.5 |
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The rate of death due to fire is higher among the poor, minorities,
children under age 5, adults over age 65, low-income communities in
remote rural areas or in poor urban communities, and among
individuals living in manufactured homes built before 1976, when the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development construction safety
standards became effective. Other risk factors for fire-related
deaths include: inoperative smoke detectors, careless smoking, abuse
of alcohol or other drugs, incorrect use of alternative heating
sources including usage of devices inappropriate or insufficient for
the space to be heated, inadequate supervision of children, and
insufficient fire safety education.6 |
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TIPS FOR PREVENTING RESIDENTIAL FIRES |
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Install smoke alarms on every floor of the home, including the
basement, and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.7 |
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Test all smoke
alarms every month to ensure they work properly.7 |
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Devise a family fire escape plan and practice it every 6 months. In
the plan, describe at least two different ways each family member
can escape every room, and designate a safe place in front of the
home for family members to meet after escaping a fire.7 |
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Select a fresh Christmas tree that is kept in water at all times.
Needles on fresh trees should be green and should not fall off
easily. Don't put your tree up too early or leave it up longer than
two weeks. Dried out Christmas trees can ignite easily and boost a
fire by spreading it rapidly to nearby combustible materials.4 |
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Place your Christmas tree in a safe place, away from heat sources
such as a fireplace or heat vent.4 |
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Maintain your holiday lights. Inspect your lights before you use
them to ensure they don't have frayed wires, gaps in the insulation,
broken or cracked sockets or excessive wear. Only use lighting that
is listed by an approved testing laboratory and don't leave the
lights on when you're not home.4 |
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Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Don't link more than three
light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe.
Periodically check the wires. They should not be warm to the touch.4 |
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Use only nonflammable decorations that are placed away from heat
vents and if you're using an artificial tree, make sure that it's
flame retardant.4 |
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Avoid using candles. If you do use candles, ensure they are in
stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked
down.4 |
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Do not leave lit candles unattended, never put candles on a
Christmas tree and never leave the house with candles burning. Place
menorahs away from vents or flammable materials.4 |
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It's also important to know that fires caused by children increase
during the holiday season. According to our National Fire Incident
Reporting System, children cause nearly 60 house fires a day in
mid-December, with another sharp increase on New Year's Day. Parents
should take precautions to prevent such avoidable tragedies.4 |
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MORE
ABOUT FIRE SAFETY |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
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National Agricultural Safety Database (NASD) |
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Fire Prevention in the Home |
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National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) |
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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) |
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Health Objectives for the Nation Deaths Resulting from Residential
Fires -- United States, 1991 |
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US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) |
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Holiday Decoration Safety Tips |
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U.S. Fire Administration |
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CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) |
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Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is
impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you
before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of
exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the
flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation,
nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from
person to person depending on age, overall health and the
concentration and length of exposure.8 |
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During 2001--2003, an estimated 15,200 persons were treated annually
in Emergency Departments (EDs) for nonfatal, unintentional,
non--fire-related CO exposure, and, during 2001--2002, an average of
480 persons died each year from unintentional, non--fire-related CO
exposure. The majority (64.3%) of nonfatal CO exposures were
reported to occurr in homes.9 |
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The death rate was highest for non-Hispanic whites and blacks (0.17
per 100,000) and lowest for other non-Hispanic races (0.12), a
relative disparity rate of 41.7%.9 |
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Although males and females were equally likely to visit an ED for CO
exposure, males were 2.7 times more likely to die from CO poisoning
(0.24 per 100,000 population vs. 0.09 for females), a relative
disparity rate of 167%.9 |
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The nonfatal rate for CO exposure was highest for children aged <4
years (8.2 per 100,000 population), whereas the CO death rate was
highest for adults aged >65 years (0.32). Adults aged >65 years
accounted for 23.5% of CO poisoning deaths.9 |
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Tips for Preventing CO Poisoning |
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Do have your heating system, water heater and any other gas,
oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician
every year. |
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Do install a battery-operated CO detector in your home and
check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks
each spring and fall. If the detector sounds leave your home
immediately and call 911. |
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Do seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning
and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous. |
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Don't use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other
gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or
garage or near a window. |
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Don't run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your
house, even if you leave the door open. |
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Don’t burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t
vented. |
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Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.10 |
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MORE ABOUT CARBON
MONOXIDE SAFETY |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning |
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Unintentional Non--Fire-Related Carbon Monoxide Exposures --- United
States, 2001—2003 |
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
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An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality |
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Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning |
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Medline Plus: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning |
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US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) |
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Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers |
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U.S. Fire Administration |
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Exposing an Invisible Killer: The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide |
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MOTOR VEHICLE INJURIES |
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Motor vehicle-related injuries are the leading cause of death among
children and young adults in the United States and the leading cause
of death from unintentional injury for people of all ages. More
than 43,000 people in the United States died in motor vehicle crashes
in 2003,11 and another 2.9 million people sustain non-fatal injuries.12 During the winter holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and
New Year’s, 1,292 fatalities occurred in 2003 from motor vehicle
accidents; during New Years more than half were alcohol-related.13 |
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Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among American
Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) ages 1-44.14
Motor vehicle -related death rates for AI/ANs are 1.8 times the rate
for all Americans (27.3 vs. 14.8 per 100,000) --=the highest rates
of all racial and ethnic groups (see table).5 |
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Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) had the lowest motor
vehicle-related death rate (8.3 per 100,000), and their death rates
were just over half of the rates for all Americans (8.3 vs. 14.8 per
100,000).5 |
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Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanics
ages 1-34, and the fifth leading cause of death for Hispanics of all
ages.15 |
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Motor vehicle crashes rank either one or two as the leading cause of
death for African Americans aged 1-34 years.5 |
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Male drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes are almost twice
as likely as female drivers to be intoxicated with a blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or greater. A BAC of 0.08% is equal to
or greater than the legal limit in most states.16 |
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At all levels of blood alcohol concentration, the risk of being
involved in a crash is greater for young people than for older
people. In 2003, 25% of drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in motor
vehicle crashes had been drinking alcohol.16 |
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TIPS FOR PREVENTING MOTOR VEHICLE INJURIES |
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Placing children in age- and size-appropriate restraint
systems reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half.17 |
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Drivers and passengers can cut their risk of dying in a crash by
half simply by buckling up.18 The use of safety belts is the
single most effective means of reducing fatal and non-fatal injuries
in motor vehicle crashes.10 |
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Avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. |
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MORE ABOUT MOTOR
VEHICLE SAFETY |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
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Motor Vehicle-Related Injuries |
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National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) |
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Child Passenger Safety: Fact Sheet |
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Impaired Driving |
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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report |
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Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999 Motor-Vehicle Safety: A
20th Century Public Health Achievement |
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) |
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Fatalities Related to Impaired Driving During the Christmas and New
Year’s Day Holiday Periods |
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National Safety Council |
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Seat
Belts and African Americans |
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Seat
Belts and Hispanics |
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OTHER HAZARDS |
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General Holiday Safety |
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CDC: Holidays the Healthy Way |
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Office of Women’s Health: Tips to Holiday Health and Safety |
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Federal Citizen Information Center: Holiday Safety |
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HealthFinder: Take Holiday Safety in Stride |
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Naval Safety Center: Holiday Season Resources |
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Crime Prevention |
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Holiday Safety Toolkit |
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Falls |
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CDC: Fall-Related Injuries During the Holiday Season-United States,
2000-2003. MMWR December 10, 2004, 53(48) 1127-1129. |
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Fatalities and Injuries from Falls Among Older Adults-United States,
1993-2003 & 2001-2005, MMWR November 17, 2006 / 55(45);1221-1224. |
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Food Safety |
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FoodSafety.gov: Holidays |
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CDC, Food Safety Office: Holiday Cooking: Keeping it Safe |
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Indoor Air Quality |
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Environmental Protection Agency: Winter Wise Tips |
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Toy Safety |
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http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/toy_sfy.html |
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Workplace Safety |
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CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):
Safe and Healthy Workplaces in the Holiday Season |
