4th of July Fireworks Safety Guide

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Each year we get together with our friends and family to celebrate the birth of our Nation with BBQ’s, parades, and of course fireworks.

But before we start our nationwide party and our fireworks safety guide, we should all take a few moments to reflect on how lucky we are to live in this great country.

We think a big part of what helps make this country great, are the brave men and women of our armed forces.

They help safeguard our freedoms and way of life, risking everything for this amazing land. Today we ask that you join us to celebrate and thank our military for all that they do.

At Altus Emergency Centers, we are proud to be a TRICARE provider. Everyday our men and women in uniform go to work to defend us all, and we would like them to know that we are here for them and their loved ones in the event of a medical emergency.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”25065″ size=”full”][vc_column_text]

Firework Injury Report

We all look forward to the fireworks display on the 4th of July but should never forget how dangerous fireworks can be.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has just published its 2020 Fireworks Annual Report.

Here are some of the findings that led us to spread awareness on fireworks safety:

There were 15,600 estimated ER treated firework-related injuries
An estimated 10,300 fireworks-related injuries (or 66 % fireworks-related injuries in 20202) were treated in U.S. emergency rooms between June 21 and July 21, 2020
More than 44% of firework-related injuries were burns
At least 12 people died from firework-related injuries in 2020
Roughly half of the ER treated injuries involved people younger than 20

Here is the breakdown of the most injured body parts:

30% Hands and Fingers

13% Legs

15% Eyes

22% Head, Face, and Ears

12% Arms[/vc_column_text][us_image_slider ids=”25064,25066″ fullscreen=”1″ autoplay=”1″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

Help Us Prevent Fireworks-Related Injuries and Deaths

4th of July Fireworks Safety Tips:

You can help us reduce the amount of fireworks-related injuries and deaths with these simple 4th of July fireworks safety tips:

Never allow young children to handle fireworks, not even sparklers
Older children should only use them under close adult supervision
Never use fireworks while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Wear protective eyewear while handling or standing near fireworks
Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
Never ignite them indoors
Keep fireworks away from people, houses and flammable materials
Never aim or throw fireworks at people or animals
Don’t place your body directly over the device when lighting the fuse
Only burn one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
Never ignite them in a container
Do not try to re-light or handle faulty fireworks
Soak spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
Have water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
Don’t buy fireworks that are packaged in brown paper. These are usually made for professional displays, and they could be dangerous
Never use illegal fireworks

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What to Do in Case of a Firework-Related Injury

If the unthinkable happens here is what you need to do:

Come to the nearest Altus Emergency Center to receive an injury evaluation and treatment
In case of an eye injury, don’t try to flush the wound with water or apply ointment. Instead, cover the eye and seek immediate medical attention at our nearest ER center
If the injury is a burn, remove the clothing surrounding the injured area and run cool, not cold water over the wound. Then head to our nearest ER center as fast as possible.

Firework-related injuries can be prevented, let’s do our best to keep our families safe during the 4th of July celebrations.

As always, all Altus Emergency Centers will be open during the holiday to treat any emergencies. Remember, we accept most private insurance and TRICARE patients.[/vc_column_text][us_image_slider ids=”25067,25062,25063″ fullscreen=”1″ autoplay=”1″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]