10 Most Dangerous States to Spend the Holidays
The holidays feel cozy on the surface, but the data tells a different story. A study by healthcare staffing company Nursa took a hard look at what actually goes wrong in December. The research utilized 10 safety metrics, including fires and crashes, as well as alcohol use and injury data, to rank where Christmas danger is most prevalent. Emergency room visits increase during the season, with the Christmas period showing a documented rise in these states compared to an average day.
Idaho
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The risk within this state comes from consistency rather than extremes. Idaho scored fairly high across multiple categories in the study without leading any single one. Winter driving conditions, injury rates, and seasonal accidents all contributed to its overall danger score. This kind of across-the-board exposure pushed the state into the top 10 even without one standout problem.
Connecticut
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Car crashes define Connecticut’s holiday risk profile, as the state showed one of the highest increases in fatal car accidents during December compared to other times of the year. It landed in the top 10 overall with a Christmas Danger Score of 7.90, driven primarily by fatal accident data rather than alcohol or fire-related risks.
Maine
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Maine ranked among the highest states for building fires per capita on Christmas Day, with structure fires being the primary concern during the holidays. Cold weather leads to increased indoor activity, the use of heating equipment, and holiday decorations, all of which increase fire risk during the month of December.
Montana
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Fatal car accidents stand out as the most significant issue in Montana, with high rates of deadly crashes, especially those connected to alcohol use. The study also noted an elevated rate of alcohol-related driving fatalities during the holiday season, which pushed the state into the higher danger range.
New Mexico
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When it comes to New Mexico, unintentional fatalities are the defining factor. The state had one of the highest rates of accidental deaths in the country, including incidents unrelated to crime. New Mexico ranked alongside West Virginia for the highest unintentional fatal injury rate used in the holiday danger analysis.
North Dakota
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Several risks overlap in North Dakota, with combined metrics resulting in a Christmas danger score of 8.01. The state ranked high for excessive drinking rates, December arrests per capita, and alcohol-related driving fatalities. It also had the highest rate of structure fires on Christmas Day, with odds nearly 10 times the national average.
Colorado
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One of the more unusual indicators pushed Colorado up the list. The state ranked high for injury-related Google searches per capita during December. Searches tied to burns, choking, bleeding, and food poisoning suggest more holiday accidents at home and while traveling.
Oregon
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Serious car crashes significantly contribute to the danger in this state. Oregon ranked high for fatal car accidents per capita during the holiday season. The study also showed a higher likelihood of deadly crashes on Christmas Day.
Wisconsin
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Alcohol is the central issue. Wisconsin had one of the highest excessive drinking rates in the country, which connects directly to higher injury rates and increased drunk driving during December. These behaviors drove its holiday danger score higher than most states with similar winter weather.
Vermont
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Winter conditions in Vermont rank the state at the top, with the highest score in the study at 8.55. The state has a 98.6% chance of snow on Christmas, which makes driving conditions for holiday travel especially dangerous. It also ranked high for fatal car accidents on this day.