This July 4th plenty of people will be celebrating the holiday with fireworks, in front of the fire pit, or grilling on the barbecue. Unfortunately, these fun and festive ways to celebrate can also be dangerous.
- The National Fire Protection Association reported that from 2014-2018 an average of 19,700 patients per year went to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills.
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there were around 6,200 injuries related to fire pits or outdoor heaters that sent people to the emergency room in 2021.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported in 2020 15,600 people were treated in U.S. emergency departments for fireworks injuries.
With July 4th on its way, and the potential for burns to occur during celebrations, Michael A. Marano, MD, Medical Director at the Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility and New Jersey’s only certified Burn Center, shares some helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure children and pets are at least three feet away from the grill or fire pit.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.
- When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water.
- In case a fire starts make sure to have a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of water nearby, and only use a fire extinguisher to put out a grill fire.