Along with most other Americans around this time of year, we Georgians are beginning to envision our upcoming Fourth of July adventures. Most of them will include sitting on blankets on top of towering parking garages with our families and friends, seeing kids running around with sparklers, laughter, and the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. With all of the fun going around this time of year, it is very easy to forget about all of the reasons safety precautions should be taken. This Fourth of July, Safe Kids Georgia encourages you to take into consideration the following Firework, Grilling, and Burn Safety Tips.
Firework Stats
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 8 deaths and 11,400 injuries related to fireworks in the United States in 2013. 65% of those injuries occurred within the 30 days surrounding July 4th. It won’t surprise you that last year, kids under the age of 5 were at higher risk of injury due to fireworks than any other population. What will surprise you is that the infamous Sparklers caused more than 40% of ALL injuries due to fireworks.
Firework Safety Tips:
Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Only use fireworks outside
Never try to re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks
Always have water or a fire extinguisher on hand
Only light one firework at a time
Closely supervise children around fireworks at all times.
Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush, leaves and flammable substances.
Avoid buying fireworks packaged in brown paper (According to the CPSC, fireworks in brown paper are often made for professional displays and not amateur, home activities)
The best way to protect your family is to not use any fireworks at home. Instead, attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.
Hot off the Grill
Although grilling is not exclusive to the Fourth of July, it is still crucial to remember the importance of being safe and providing a safe environment for kids when grilling this weekend. Safe Kids Georgia encourages the following grilling tips.
Grilling Tips:
Enact a 3 foot ‘safe zone’ around the grill to ensure the safety of children and pets
To avoid accidental fires and injuries, only grill outside
Never leave a lit or warm grill unattended to prevent injury and unintentional fire
Don’t Panic!
In the event that a child or adult experiences a burn this Fourth of July, do not panic! Use the following First Aid tips to initially treat the burn and then decide if further action is needed.
First Aid for Burns:
Soak burn in cool water for 3-5 minutes
Cover burn with a clean and dry cloth
Schedule to see a doctor if the burn is larger than your palm
For more information about firework safety, please visit http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2014/06/cpsc-science-fireworks-injuries-2014/ or http://www.safekids.org/tip/fireworks-safety-tips
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