Each year, especially during the early summer weeks around the Fourth of July, thousands of people are treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries. While some are minor, many of these injuries are serious, for example, resulting in burns or blindness.
Last year the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received reports of six men who were killed by professional-grade, homemade or banned firework devices. In addition, an estimated 8,700 consumers were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries.
Between June 22, 2012 and July 22, 2012, more than 5,000 consumers were treated in hospital emergency rooms due to fireworks-related injuries. Sixty percent of all fireworks injuries occur during the 30 days surrounding the July 4 holiday. More than half of these reported injuries involved burns to the hands, head and face. About 1,000 reported injuries involved sparklers and bottle rockets, fireworks that are frequently and incorrectly considered safe for young children.
Fireworks. They are something that goes with the celebration of Independence Day. But no matter how fun they are and how beautiful they are when they explode into the sky, fireworks often bring pain and sometimes death, when they aren’t handled properly.
Firework Injuries:
According to the CPSC, the hands and fingers receive 46% of the injuries associated with fireworks, followed by heads, faces and ears with 17%, trunks with 5%, legs with 11%, eyes with 17% and arms with 4%. Over half of these injuries were minor to severe burns. Firecrackers (23%), bottle rockets (12%) and sparklers (12%) are the primary types of fireworks that resulted in injury.
Firework Safety Tips
Fireworks can be dangerous, so in order to prevent injuries and deaths that are related to fireworks, here are a few firework safety tips to follow this Fourth of July:
- Children should never be allowed to ignite or play with fireworks (even sparklers).
- An adult should always be supervising firework activity.
- A garden hose or bucket of water should always be on hand in the event of a mishap or fire.
- No one should ever try to pick up or re-ignite a firework that did not ignite properly or fully the first time around.
- Fireworks should only be lit one at a time and the person lighting them should immediately move away from the firework after lighting it.
Child Safety
Due to the large attendance of most Independence Day-related activities, it is crucial that Families focus on child safety and meet-up plans.
Families should consider wearing unique, identifiable colors, hold hands at all times and/or buddy up.
A unique way of ensuring you are contacted if your child is lost in a crowd is to have your child wear a beaded bracelet that has your phone number or consider getting an ID bracelet or something similar. Determine a time and place to meet should the Family separate. Make sure that you child knows to find a police officer if they get lost in a crowd.
Water Safety
Because almost everyone heads out to the beach, lake or river for 4th of July, it is important that you and your Family are kept as safe as possible while playing in the water or out in the water with your jet ski or boat. Here are some water safety tips:
- Make sure the children - and even adults - always have a life jacket on when in the water or on a motorized water vehicle (boat, jet ski, etc.)
- Never let your children swim alone. An adult should always be present and paying attention.
- Always step “Feet First” into shallow water and never try to dive.
- Alcohol, fireworks and Fourth of July do not mix well. Drink responsibly and make sure to have a designated driver available.
- Review safe boating practices.
- Always have a phone handy should an emergency arise.
- Know your limits when it comes to water.
Sun Safety
Whether you are planning a fun day at the beach or local theme park, don't let the day be ruined by a painful sunburn. Here are a few tips to help avoid the burn.
- Avoid the sun during its hottest hours, between 10 am and 2 pm.
- Use sunscreen with a SPF factor of at least 15.
- Apply sun block 15 to 30 minutes before going into the sun.
- Reapply sun block throughout the day, especially if you are swimming or perspiring.
- Use sun block protection for your lips. (Only use sun block that is specifically designed for the lips.)
- Don't let an overcast day fool you - the sun's UV rays are just as strong.
- Wear a wide brimmed hat to protect the face, ears and neck.
- Be sure to protect your eyes, by wearing sunglasses with UV protection.
- Certain medications can increase your sensitivity to the sun. If you are taking medication - consult your physician or pharmacy before spending prolonged time in the sun.
- Drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty.
- Check the UV (Ultra Violet) Sun Index. As a general rule, the higher the UV Index the higher the SPF needed in your sunscreen.
UV Sun Index
Index number and Exposure Level:
0 to 2 - minimal
3 to 4 - low
5 to 6 - moderate
7 to 9 - high
10 + - very high
Food Safety
4th of July barbeques are one of the most important times to remember food safety. Food safety is extremely important when serving items like potato salad. You must remember to keep foods with mayonnaise cold or salmonella could set in. If salmonella does set in, the safety of your guests will be in danger. Some people simply get nauseous when they get salmonella, while others are much more deeply affected by this condition. Some people are even left with arthritis that affects the person's entire body. If you do serve foods with mayonnaise, be sure to serve them as soon as the party starts. Also remember to cook chicken and hamburgers well done. If your guests complain about the well done hamburgers, just remember that their safety is more important than them turning their noses up to a well done hamburger.
Hope you, your family and friends have a fun and SAFE Holiday/Summer!!!
