Fireworks. They are something that goes with the celebration of Independence Day. No matter how fun and 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 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the hands and fingers receive 41% of the injuries associated with fireworks, followed by heads, faces and ears with 19%, trunks with 15%, legs with 13%, eyes with 12% and arms with 1%. 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.
- 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 Garrison events and other 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 your child knows to find a police officer if they get lost in a crowd.
Water Safety
Because almost everyone heads out to the lake or beach 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 for 2016 Independence Day:
- 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
- Try to limit your exposure to the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Always wear sunscreen with at least a 15 SPF, although higher is recommended, and should be reapplied often.
- Make sure to stay hydrated and watch for signs of heat stroke – rapid, weak pulse, fast or slow breathing, and hot, red skin.
If you follow all of these tips, you will have a much more enjoyable Independence Day celebration with your family.
