Dr. Nels Rose, an emergency medicine physician with BayCare Clinic, joined us on Wisconsin Tonight to talk about 4th of July and safety. Dr. Rose said fireworks safety is common sense information that is easily forgotten in the excitement and build up to July 4th. People just need an annual reminder to keep them safe. We know we should exercise caution with fireworks, but sometimes we just forget.
Make safety a priority and you’ll enjoy being injury free. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control offers many fireworks safety tips, including:
* Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks
* Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities
* Avoid buying fireworks packaged in brown paper, which often means they were made for professional displays and could be dangerous for consumers
* Make sure you, your kids, and others watch fireworks displays from a safe distance
* Call 911 immediately if someone is injured from fireworks
It’s better to talk safety and act in a safe and responsible manner around fireworks than to have to rush yourself or a loved one to the ER on one of the most festive summer days of the year. Sparklers, seemingly the most mundane of fireworks, burn at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the same temperature as a blow torch. What’s wrong with advising a little caution around their use? We can be safe with fireworks and still have plenty of fun.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are an average 230 fireworks-related injuries on and around the 4th of July. Other statistics:
* Sparklers and firecrackers account for almost 40 percent of all fireworks related accidents
* Adults from age 25 to 44 are most commonly injured by fireworks
* Men (74 percent), not women (26 percent), are most commonly injured by fireworks
* Fireworks were involved in an estimated 10,500 injuries treated in U.S. ERs in 2014
* In 2014, nine people died from eight different fireworks related accidents
Fireworks can cause death and injury, including burns, contusions, lacerations and foreign objects in the eye. Protect yourself and your family from fireworks injuries. Be overly cautious around fireworks. And remember, alcohol and fireworks don’t mix. Enjoy a safe July 4th.
For more information, visit Baycare.net or the National Council on Fireworks Safety at fireworkssafety.org.
