Photo Credit: STILLFX/ShutterShock

Text Size:

December 9, 2011

The weeks after Thanksgiving and before Christmas are times when many people take out the colorful lights and decorate their homes. The U.S. Consumer and Product Safety Commission reports on average 14,000 visits to the hospital emergency rooms in the two months surrounding the holiday season each year.

To stay safe this holiday season, Shawn Miller, a holiday-decoration-electrocution survivor shares his story and offers some safety tips.

"I was just hanging Christmas lights at my mom's house like I do every year," Miller said to Market Watch. "Only this time, I was decorating a new area - the trees that lined the front of the yard."

While decorating this new part of the yard, he threw up the lights and suddenly 7200 volts of electricity overtook his body. The shock began in the overhead power lines and traveled into the strand of lights he was holding. He lost his left hand and suffered 27 exit wounds, reports Market Watch.

Be Aware of Dangerous Hazards While Decorating Outside

"Please take note of your surroundings before decorating outside," Miller urges, "especially power lines and the service connection to your home. Make sure to keep yourself, ladders, and lights far away from them. I'm lucky to be alive. I want everyone to be careful - be aware of power lines."

Safe Electricity, a program dedicated to electricity education and safety supports Miller's desire to share his story of survival.

"Shawn Miller has a lot to teach us about electrical safety, and we are grateful he has shared his story," said Molly Hall, executive director of the Safe Electricity program.

Shawn Miller wished he had used more caution and advised others to do so while decorating for the holidays.

"Had I known more before this happened, I might still have two hands and the job I loved," Miller said. "I want to help people learn from what has happened to me."

Watch Shawn Miller's Safe Electricity Video

Comments / Post a comment