Fourth of July Safety Tips

As our community prepares to gather with family and friends to celebrate Independence Day, it's important to remember that many Fourth of July injuries are caused by sun exposure, swimming or boating, food poisoning, and firework accidents. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2023 Fireworks Annual Report, an estimated 800 emergency department-treated injuries were associated with firecrackers and 700 with sparklers. As you prepare for the upcoming holiday, remember these safety tips to keep you and your family safe and out of the emergency room.

1. Protect yourself from the sun. When outdoors, apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before going out and reapply every two hours, especially after swimming. Everyone, regardless of skin color, is at risk of the potential harmful effects of UV radiation and can benefit from using sunscreen. UV radiation from the sun can harm the skin of your eyelids and your eyes, so it's also important to wear sunglasses.
2. Be careful in the water. If you plan to spend time cooling off in the ocean and pools this holiday, it's important to watch everyone in the water, especially young children. Always have a United States Coast Guard-approved flotation device on hand, and if you're going boating, be sure that everyone has and wears a life jacket. For more water safety tips, visit the American Red Cross website.
3. Food Safety. Remember these food safety tips for grilling and cooking outdoors:
   1. Use separate plates for raw and cooked meat.
   2. Avoid leaving food in the sun for over two hours to prevent food-borne illnesses and poisoning.
   3. Use a meat thermometer to ensure grilled meats are cooked thoroughly.
   4. Promptly refrigerate leftovers.

If you experience severe food poisoning symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, a high fever (103°F and above), vomiting that prevents fluids from staying down, dehydration, or diarrhea that lasts for more than three days, visit the emergency room immediately.

4. Use fireworks with caution. If you decide to have a fireworks display:
   1. Never let young children handle the fireworks.
   2. Read the directions before lighting, and always have water nearby.
   3. When using sparklers, never allow children to run with them or light more than one at a time.
   4. Make sure to douse sparklers in water after use.
   5. If you have an unexpected injury or illness, visit the nearest urgent care. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or head to the emergency room.

Shayla McDonald, Nurse Manager, UF Health Emergency Care Center – Flagler Hospital, says, “Every year, we see an increase of accidents related to the Fourth of July, that could be avoided. Please remember that alcohol should be avoided by those handling fireworks. We also recommend keeping a close eye on your children around all fireworks, including sparklers.”

You can also leave it to the professionals and attend an upcoming community fireworks display.

Fireworks Over the Matanzas, the City of St. Augustine's annual Independence Day celebration - The 20-minute fireworks display will reach high over Matanzas Bay starting at 9:30 p.m., choreographed to a stirring soundtrack of popular and patriotic music delivered over an extensive sound system. The entire Bayfront between the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and the Bridge of Lions will be transformed into a theatre of sight and sound.