Fireworks Safety for the Whole Family

Nemours Enterprise
Monday, June 09, 2008 @ 01:48 PM EDT
by: Odette Struys; (904) 728-1062; ostruys@nemours.org

Nemours’ KidsHealth® offers tips on how to keep your family safe this July 4th

Jacksonville, FL - Summer’s heat, the smell of hamburgers on the grill, and the sound of fireworks can only mean one thing: It's the Fourth of July! With warm weather and family events, the holiday can be a fun time with great memories. But before your family celebrates this year, make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety.

So how can you enjoy the Fourth of July and still stay safe? The best thing you can do to protect your family is to attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals. However, if you live in a state that allows fireworks and you're planning a do-it-yourself celebration, you need to take extra precautions.

Nemours owns and operates the award winning KidsHealth.org, the #1 website devoted to children’s health and parenting. It offers these safety tips to ensure your family’s holiday is a blast:

Do not let children play with fireworks. Firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are very dangerous. If your teens want to use sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from their face, clothing, and hair.
Buy only legal fireworks and store them in a cool, dry place. If your fireworks don't list the manufacturer’s name or have an instruction label, they're probably illegal. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarter-pounder.
Never try to make your own fireworks. Buy ready-made fireworks rather than making your own, even from a kit
Choose fireworks that are appropriate for the area. Avoid using rockets or other aerial fireworks in the backyard of a residential area. Choose fountain-type fireworks instead.
Steer clear of others. Fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket, as the friction could set them off.
Keep a bucket of water and a hose nearby. Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them away and keep a hose nearby in case dry leaves or other materials catch on fire.
Light one firework at a time and never relight a dud. If a firework doesn't appear to work, do not go over to it or attempt to relight it. Stand back and wait and then douse it with water.
Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed by fireworks. Keep your pet indoors to reduce the risk that it will run loose or get injured.

"The best way to prevent fireworks injuries is to attend a professional show,” said Freddie Guyer, MD, Chief of Hospitalists Services at Nemours Children’s Clinic Jacksonville. “However, if fireworks are legal in your state, the #1 rule for parents to remember is that children should never play with fireworks or be allowed to set them off. The most common fireworks injuries involve the hands, fingers, eyes, head, and face – and many parents may not realize that children are at increased risk for deeper burns because their skin is thinner than adult skin.”

If an eye injury occurs, do not allow anyone to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage. Do not flush the eye out with water or attempt to put any ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and immediately seek medical attention. If a burn injury occurs, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool water over the burn (do not use ice) and call your doctor immediately.

For more information about keeping your family safe this Fourth of July, please visit: www.nemours.org/link/kidshealth.

modified: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 @ 06:02 PM EDT
created: Monday, June 09, 2008 @ 01:45 PM EDT

About Nemours

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.

Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.

Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.