Staying Safe – Fourth of July
Today is a great day – we as American’s are celebrating Independence Day. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. Happy Birthday to the United States of America! Make sure to celebrate this special holiday with caution as statistics show that accidents always increase on days like today. Follow these tips and tricks to practice a safe Fourth of July!
Decorating Tips
The 4th of July is a dangerous holiday as it has more fires than any other day of the year. On average there is about $35,000,000 in fire damages per year. Some decorations have smaller parts, or dangerous chemicals. This can be dangerous to small children and animals. It is important to make sure that the decorations are safe and children/animal friendly if they are in the lower areas. When you decorate the area that you will be setting off fireworks, it is important to make sure that the decorations are a safe distance from the actual fireworks. This should be a roped off area, that is away from children, animals, and spectators.
Firework Safety
Fireworks are fun and mesmerizing to watch yet can be so dangerous. The worst part is that often times it is the children who are the ones that get injured in these types of fires. They are often times not prepared to use fireworks safely and how to handle situations when they do not go according to plan. Take these extra precautions when planning your firework celebration:
- Have a fire extinguisher nearby. If there is an accidental fire it can be put out immediately.
- Have a hose and water buckets filled and available. This is also important in the event a small fire is not able to be put out by a small fire extinguisher.
- Pick a clear and empty area for your firing zone. Make sure there are not any bushes, dry grass, trees, streamers, balloons, flammable helium, and other fire hazardous materials.
- Know the laws! Stay away from illegal fireworks. They are illegal due to the increased danger involved with certain types of fireworks. Here is a list of the fireworks to avoid: large re-loadable mortar shells, cherry bombs, Ariel bombs, m-80 salutes, large firecrackers are often on the “no-go” list.
Drinking Safety
As mentioned in previous PBIM articles, create a plan for getting home safely. No one is telling you that you cannot have a drink or two to celebrate this meaningful holiday, but you should always drink responsibly if you decide to do so. If you are going out to a bar or a get-together, confirm that everyone in your group has a safe way of returning home. Choose one person in your group to be a designated driver, arrange a ride with someone outside of your group that is not planning on drinking, plot a bus route, or you can order a Lyft, Uber, or a taxi.
Clean Up Pointers
Children and animals do not always make the right decisions for their own safety. They end up eating the decorations, getting caught in them or getting hurt. If you have a child and/or family pet or even if you want to consider the safety of a wild animal, keep in mind that the bright colors of red, white and blue will attract a bird as a toy. Make sure to clean up immediately after your celebration. Do not leave anything laying out over night.
Dr. Dharia and his team at Palm Beach Internal Medicine want to wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July! You can reach them at (561) 776-8891 if you have any questions regarding your health before and after this long holiday weekend.