DOWNERS GROVE – The 4th of July is a time to celebrate independence by attending barbeques, swimming and enjoying fireworks with your family and friends. Physicians on staff at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital stress the importance of fireworks safety in order to avoid injury.
“While fireworks are a fun part of the holiday, they are also inherently dangerous, especially for children, both supervised and unsupervised,” said Dr. Michael Iwanicki, trauma surgeon on staff at Good Samaritan Hospital.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2010 treated an estimated 8,600 people for fireworks related injuries; 57 percent of fireworks-related injuries were to the arms and legs and 37 percent were to the head.
Attend local professional shows and avoid buying fireworks to best prevent any injuries this holiday.
With use of legal fireworks, Dr. Iwanicki recommends these additional safety tips:
- Kids should never play with fireworks, even with parental supervision
- Never try to relight a firework that previously did not work
- Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for fireworks that do not fire
- Make sure people are a safe distance away when lighting any type of firework, including sparklers
- Observe local laws in regards to the use of fireworks
If an accident does occur, seek immediate care from a physician or go to the emergency room. Check out this link for more information on which fireworks are legal to use in Illinois and be sure to also check local municipality regulations: http://www.fireworksafety.com/laws.htm.
