Stay safe this Fourth of July

In addition to common ED visits such as chest pain, abdominal pain and fever, ED Physician Jon Garlovsky, D.O. sees a spike in visits during Fourth of July weekend.

Here’s his Top 5 list of reasons people end up in the emergency department, along with prevention tips.

1) Firework burns and injuries

“With fireworks, the most serious injuries always seem to include the hands and face,” says Dr. Garlovsky. “People often handle what they think are unexploded fireworks after they light them, or they’re heavily intoxicated and make bad decisions with fireworks.”

Prevention tips

• Drink in moderation and take extra caution if you are going to handle fireworks.
• Do not handle unexploded fireworks after they are lit.
• Soak them in water if they do not light after trying to ignite them.
• Do not hold fireworks in your hand or near your face after they are ignited.

2) Barbecue-related injuries

These injuries often involve the mishandling of lighter fluid or smoke inhalation,” Dr. Garlovsky says. 

Prevention tips

• Do not light a barbecue grill indoors.
• Don’t light a charcoal barbecue near flammable materials.
• Make sure you light your grill in a well-ventilated area.
• Keep small children away from grills. 

3) Drowning 

“Over the holiday season, you’ll hear about drowning incidents and they often involve alcohol or using watercraft,” Dr. Garlovsky says.

Prevention tips

• Avoid a spinal injury by refraining from diving into the shallow end of a pool or diving where you don’t know the depth.
• If you are using watercraft, regardless of how small, wear a life vest.
• Try to swim with others rather than alone. 
• Children can start to drown in seconds. Never leave them unattended near a pool.

4) Sunburn

5) Alcohol-related illnesses injuries