10 hidden dangers to avoid this festive season

Dr Louis Francescutti, an emergency-room physician and professor and injury researcher, says he treats traumas like Keresteci’s every year. “Whoever draws the Christmas shift usually has a story to tell,” he says.

Safety tips: If you’re using a ladder outdoors, do so during daylight hours, and clear away any branches or loose items before setting it down. Never stand on a rung higher than fourth from the top, and don’t climb up or down while carrying anything. Instead, place lights or other items in a container and raise and lower them by rope while maintaining three-point contact with the ladder: one hand and two feet, or two hands and one foot. Make sure you have a spotter, too.