The July 4th holiday is just about four weeks away. You’re excited, your kids are excited, and you can’t wait to shoot off a few fireworks with family and friends. It’s become a tradition, you do it every year and with each passing year, the celebration only gets better. The dangers of fireworks are no secret, but that doesn’t stop you or even the professionals from handling them and shooting them into the sky on July 4th. As long as you are safe and prepared in the event of an injury or emergency, you can have the same grand 4th of July festivities as usual.
Sparklers
A true 4th of July favorite is the sparkler. They are fun, glitzy, and cheap - making them an essential holiday must-have. Not to mention you can buy them just about anywhere. What makes these glittery wands so dangerous is the burning sparkle. It may seem like a small enough flame that is easy to control and even manipulate. However, sparklers burn near 2,200 degrees! Shockingly, many parents had no idea that was the case. The flying sparks are more than enough to burn hands and feet while also having the ability to ignite clothing.
Bottle Rockets
These are incredibly popular despite their safety warnings. Bottle rockets are small rocket fireworks with a fuse attached to a thin wooden stick meant to shoot out of a glass bottle. From the time you light the short fuse, you have only seconds before the bottle rocket shoots up into the air, whistling on its way, then popping as it explodes. It might not sound too dangerous, but it’s the neglectful use that causes harm. For example, firing bottle rockets at other people happens a lot. This can result in chest, head, and eye injuries or burns which means a visit to the ER instead of the holiday celebration.
Roman Candles
People of all ages love roman candles. They shoot off multiple shells from a tube that explode in a variety of colors. The tube is usually held by hand with the arm extended up into the air. It sounds fun and, on the surface, appears pretty safe, but believe us, these 4th of July favorites pose a number of risks. Many parents will allow their children to shoot of a roman candle as long as they hold the tube low, away from the fuse. It doesn’t matter where or how the candle is held; individuals have gotten severe burns - especially when a jam in the firework occurs.
Firecrackers
Firecrackers have been around for quite some time. They are designed to be placed on the ground and lit to explode. Some of them are linked together by one long fuse so you can light it and have a series of explosions a few seconds apart. More and more injuries are caused from these fireworks because of reckless use. For instance, we’re heard of individuals lighting off firecrackers in the palm of their hand and even closing their hand around the firework. Never do this. It will result in a trip to the ER for extreme burns and injuries.
The 4th of July is meant to be fun and safe for everyone, which is why we want you to know about all the risks involved with fireworks. In the event of an injury or emergency during your celebration, we’ll take good care of you at Touchette Regional Hospital. Our trained, responsive Emergency Department (ED) staff is available 24/7 and right when you need us. To learn more about our ED and its services, click here.