PENNSYLVANIA — A new survey reveals that Christmas decorations, often viewed as harmless hallmarks of the season, are responsible for a surprising number of household injuries across Pennsylvania — with fragile glass baubles topping the list.
The study by Bisnar Chase, which surveyed 2,011 households, found that 18 percent of Pennsylvania families have experienced at least one Christmas-related injury. Glass ornaments accounted for 54 percent of all decoration-related incidents, making them the most dangerous festive item in homes statewide. Falling Christmas trees caused 23 percent of injuries, while shocks or burns from string lights accounted for 18 percent.
The findings also suggest that risky decorating habits are widespread. Forty-seven percent of respondents acknowledged balancing on furniture instead of using a proper ladder. Forty percent admitted climbing a ladder alone without a spotter, and 13 percent said they used ladders outdoors on uneven or icy surfaces.
Electrical risks were similarly common. The survey found that 45 percent of households leave their holiday lights on overnight or when no one is home — a behavior long associated with overheating and electrical hazards. When asked which danger they most underestimate, respondents most often pointed to overloaded outlets and extension cords, with 33 percent citing them as a risk they tend to overlook.
Other hazards Pennsylvanians say they discount include drying real Christmas trees, which carry increased fire risk (18 percent), glass ornaments themselves (16 percent), and indoor string lights (13 percent).
Despite the injury numbers, respondents were split on their own decorating habits: 39 percent consider themselves very safety-conscious, another 39 percent say they are somewhat careful, and 22 percent admit they take shortcuts or don’t think much about safety at all.
Brian Chase of Bisnar Chase said many of these injuries could be avoided with small adjustments. “Every year we see preventable injuries caused by decorations that people assume are harmless,” he said. “A broken ornament, a wobbly tree stand, or an overloaded outlet doesn’t feel like a major threat — until it sends someone to the hospital. Our message is simple: enjoy the season, but take those extra seconds to decorate safely.”
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