Many people celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, but it is important to create a plan before enjoying them to prevent injury.
“It’s imperative to responsibly designate who will be setting off the fireworks. The general recommendation is for children not to be involved,” explained urgent care physician Allan Capin, MD.
Dr. Capin said it’s best to leave the fireworks show to the professionals, but location matters if you decide to set some off yourself.
You should be in an open area outside – away from anything that can easily catch fire.
When it’s time to light the fireworks, don’t stand directly over them; make sure to light them off one at a time. You should never try to re-light a firework that doesn’t go off.
If you experience a minor burn, Dr. Capin said it’s important to avoid icing it to relieve the pain.
“It’s not a good idea to use ice on a burn. Ice is the enemy in this case because the minute you apply ice, you’re decreasing blood flow to the area, which can cause more pain and worsen the severity of the burn,” Dr. Capin said.
Dr. Capin added that running a minor burn under cool water can help, but make sure to seek medical care if the burn is more severe and blistering.
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