Christmas Lights Accident

Whenever I'm climbing the big ladder the day after Thanksgiving each year to hang the Christmas lights, something like this is always in mind:

ALISO VIEJO – A 59-year-old Aliso Viejo man died after falling from a ladder while hanging Christmas lights on his house Sunday.

Christopher Shifter was several feet up on the ladder to string up lights on his home on Montara Drive about 1 p.m. Sunday when he fell to the ground, said Capt. Stephen Miller of the Orange County Fire Authority.

Shifter's wife, who was inside their home, rushed outside after hearing the fall and found her husband lying on the ground, Miller said

Shifter was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where he died.

"There wasn't anything to indicate he was doing anything wrong," Miller said. "He had a good ladder, but he was out there alone. A small fall can turn into something tragic."

That's why I made the 15 year-old climb the ladder this year (his efforts here). I promised him he wouldn't get hurt...much.

Seriously, I climbed up near the top of my 8 foot wooden ladder and I wasn't feeling any too secure. It would be easy to take a fall, and that's why we always have a spotter when working up there.