Newswise — MAYWOOD, IL – Decorating for the holidays can be a joyous time, but it can also prove dangerous. Real trees — and even artificial ones — adorned with lights and ornaments can pose a serious fire risk.
Joshua Carson, MD, regional director of Loyola Medicine's Burn Center, warns people to be extra cautious around the holidays to prevent burn injuries, even with something as simple as a Christmas tree. Loyola's Burn Center is the largest in Illinois and a regional leader in treating adult and pediatric burns.
"Many people love to decorate their homes for the holiday season, and it's important to do so in a way that can prevent any harm from coming to you, your family or your home," said Dr. Carson. "This time of year, we often see an uptick in patients with serious burns in our emergency departments and burn centers, but many of these situations are easily preventable if people follow the right precautions."
Unplugging the lights before going to bed and avoiding extension cords can help prevent fires. Christmas lights and the overuse of extension cords create heat that can cause even an artificial tree to catch fire. Be sure to use lights that have been safety tested by an independent laboratory. Additionally, before you add a strand of lights, make sure to check for exposed or frayed wires. It's important to check the lights on pre-lit artificial trees too.
A dried-out tree is one of the most common causes of fire. To keep your tree fresh before decorating, store it outside in a bucket of ice and cut off about two inches of the trunk for better water absorption. Be sure to check water levels daily and provide one quart of water per inch of stem diameter.
If you experience any burns this holiday season, Loyola Medicine's Burn Center can advise on how to properly care for the injury to prevent lasting damage. "You don't have to suffer a severe burn to call us for advice, but signs a burn might be serious include skin discoloration, especially if the skin turns white or black, swelling, loss of sensation and burns covering a large area of the body," said Dr. Carson. "If burns cover more than a hand-sized area or affect the face, eyes, hands or feet, definitely seek medical treatment."
Most physicians are not trained in advanced burn care and treating serious burns requires a multidisciplinary approach, which is why it's best to visit a hospital or care center with a dedicated burn unit. Severe burns can cause problems that affect other parts of the body, some requiring specialized nurses or special surgical care. Burn centers can also provide the physical and occupational therapy and psychosocial support needed when recovering from serious burns.
As people put up their trees for the holiday, whether artificial or real, following simple steps can help prevent burns and keep loved ones safe this holiday season.
To learn more about Loyola Medicine and the Burn Center or to schedule an appointment, visit loyolamedicine.org.
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About Loyola Medicine
Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from more than 1,500 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. Loyola is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. and Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, a certified comprehensive stroke center and a children’s hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for over 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. Established in 1961, Gottlieb is a 247-licensed-bed community hospital in Melrose Park with the Judd A. Weinberg Emergency Department, the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research Facility at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center. MacNeal is a 374-licensed-bed teaching hospital in Berwyn with advanced medical, surgical and psychiatric services, acute rehabilitation, an inpatient skilled nursing facility and a 68-bed behavioral health program and community clinics.
For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook Instagram and X, (formerly known as Twitter).
About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, Catholic health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 121,000 colleagues and nearly 36,500 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 27 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 101 hospitals, 126 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 136 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2023, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.5 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
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