No one wants a great Fourth of July celebration to end in
the emergency room, yet thousands find themselves doing just that every year.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that in 2013, more than
11,400 people went to the ER with injuries sustained from fireworks. Sixty-five
percent of those visits were within the 30 days surrounding July 4.
Children
under 15 made up about 40 percent of those patients.
The National Safety Council reports that children between
the ages of 10 and 14 are three times more likely to suffer an injury due to
fireworks than the rest of the general population. And this comes from the use
or misuse of small firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers.
We think of sparklers as being “safe” for children, when in
fact they burn between 1,200 and 2,000 degrees. That’s hot enough to melt glass
and some metals. Consider glow sticks
for little ones. Still fun but not dangerous.
The best advice is to leave it to the professionals. Make
plans to enjoy a community fireworks display instead of doing your own. Most
fireworks are illegal in the state of Iowa per city codes and state laws.
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, GRMC’s emergency
department is here for you. Play it safe this holiday weekend.
For more tips, check out these websites.
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