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We all fall down - Getting a photo with Santa is a great and exciting tradition for many kids! But Santa needs to make sure he has the situation under control. Children can sustain injuries through falling off his lap.

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Cook it thoroughly - The abundance of food is one of the staples of the holiday season. This, combined with the rush of catering to a lot of hungry people can lead to big mistakes, especially with under-cooked meat. Don’t let food poisoning ruin Christmas.

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Getting unstuck - A lot of parents will try and give their kids the full Christmas experience! This is a great idea, but don’t go climbing down the chimney in your Santa suit. You could really hurt yourself, in addition to wasting firefighters’ precious time!

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Batteries not included - Batteries aren’t often included in Christmas toys and gadgets. However when they conveniently are, maybe don't test them out with your tongue to see if they work. Seriously. You could actually die.

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Jingle bells - Bells come in many shapes and sizes, and some are even small enough to fit in the ear. Be careful what decorations your child has access to, because you don't want to spend Christmas night in the emergency room after your child just wanted to hear that ringing a bit better.

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All tangled up - Christmas lights bring a nice atmosphere to a home at Christmas! They can go all over the tree or even all over the house. Just make sure you’re careful and don’t strangle yourself with the lights.

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Electric shock - Electrocution is no laughing matter. The amount of injuries sustained through electrocution over the festive season is staggering, and these accidents usually happen because of Christmas lights!

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Cook with caution -

Juggling all the Christmas food by carrying heavy plates or bending too much to take heavy dishes from the oven can take its toll. Be careful not to sustain a back or shoulder injury!

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A calm and steady hand - Sometimes the excitement of seeing what is inside a Christmas present can make people reckless! Watch out and make sure that the knife or scissors in your hand doesn’t slip!

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Don't be rash - A Christmas tree is the centerpiece of decorations in many homes. Some have artificial trees, others prefer the real deal. But if you go natural, make sure you (or your children) aren't allergic, or it could make for a very itchy Christmas!

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Crawling in a winter wonderland - If you’re going to store your decorations or tree in the attic or basement, make sure it hasn't gained some extra passengers. Nobody wants to deal with a bunch of bug bites over the holidays!

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Poking and prodding - Putting up a Christmas tree should, for the most part, be a fairly hazard-free experience! But be careful with those little branches! You don’t want to sustain an eye injury.

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Watch what you eat! - Chocolate coins or other chocolate tree decorations wrapped in foil are great fun, especially for kids. But make sure you or your kids don’t make the mistake of eating a non-edible tree decoration. You could end up in the hospital, or worse.

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Playing with fire - Dousing a Christmas fruit cake with liquor and setting it on fire may look pretty, but make no mistake—you are playing with fire. Be careful, you don’t want to join the ranks of those who have sustained bad burns.

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It's all about moderation - Alcohol plays a big part in Christmas celebrations for many people. Whether this is at home with friends and family, or with colleagues at a party, make sure not to overdo it or you may end up like this guy.

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Merry chokemas - From small toys, to bones from food, there is an increased risk of choking this yuletide. Especially look out for small kids!

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Safety before pins - If you have a new shirt as a Christmas gift, it might be tempting to show your great appreciation by trying it on immediately. But maybe make sure the pins are removed first.

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Vroom vroom! - Believe it or not, toy cars running amok have actually caused several Christmas injuries. Perhaps it's a better idea not to increase the speed settings!

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Spiky - A Christmas tree is a beautiful thing. It is made even prettier by decorating it. But make sure that you approach with care. Pine needles from a tree could stab into you and get stuck. Not fun.

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Careful with the water - Water and electricity don’t mix. At all. So if you have a tree and you need to water it, make sure you're only putting it in the base (away from cords), and do it while the tree is unplugged. 

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Have a smashing time! - Christmas ornaments are very pretty, but they're also very fragile. If one accidentally drops off the tree, make sure you clean up all the pieces carefully, and watch where you step! 

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Writer's block - Still sending handwritten Christmas cards to your several hundred nearest and dearest? Well, don’t do it all in one go or you may end up with carpal tunnel syndrome.

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Winter warmers - You may need to change a light on the tree this Christmas season. Make sure you unplug the strand and wait a few minutes for it to cool, otherwise you might end up getting burned by the tiny bulb!

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Outdoor decorations -

If you're decorating the outside of your home for the holidays, make sure you're taking extra care with that ladder. There are plenty of bad falls that occur around the Christmas season. 

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O Christmas tree - Christmas trees can be very heavy! Make sure you have help when you're bringing in and setting it up, otherwise you could find yourself stuck on the floor with a tree on top of you.

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Careful what you throw - Everyone loves a good snowball fight! However make sure what you're throwing is actually snow. While powdery snow may make for a fun time, a chunk of ice being thrown at the speed of a tennis serve can cause some real damage.

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Utensils exist for a reason - Sometimes a bottle opener might not be immediately at hand. And this might give you some wise ideas, like opening the bottle with your teeth. Don’t. Just don’t.

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Cracking! - Christmas crackers can be quite dangerous! Pulling them may sometimes cause a strain, but people have broken their arms through cracker-related injuries. Be careful!

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Just dance -

If you are planning to go to some parties or clubs this festive period, make sure you stay hydrated. Otherwise, that Christmas music blaring in the morning won't sound quite so merry.

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Follow the instructions -

If your new toy or gadget says “use a screwdriver,” use a screwdriver. Don’t be too lazy to look for one and use a knife instead or you might end up cutting yourself quite badly.

See also: How to keep your kids warm and safe in winter

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