Don't Let 4th Of July Turn Dangerous: IL Doctor's Safety Tips

Many hospitals in Illinois are flooded with various injuries on the 4th of July every year from car crashes, heatstroke, food poisoning, fireworks injuries and boating accidents, among other hazards. Sadly, many people die from their injuries. Independence Day is one of the most dangerous holidays in the United States, according to the National Safety Council.

The most common hazard on the 4th of July is car accidents, according to Dr. Eddie Markul, an emergency physician at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago.

"...when you combine alcohol with a holiday where millions of people are on the roads, setting off fireworks, and operating boats, the results often turn deadly," Markul said. "In addition, when parents’ awareness and reaction times are impaired by alcohol it also poses a danger to young children, who need to be supervised around hazards like fireworks, water, and grills.”

Talk to family and friends ahead of time about having a designated driver or arranging for safe transportation options, the medical center said. Make sure that children are being watched by a sober adult at all times. If you consume alcohol, limit yourself to two drinks for men or one for women, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Fireworks are another safety risk on the 4th of July, causing four deaths and nearly 11,000 injuries in 2016, according to the National Safety Council. According to the Illinois State Fire Marshal's 2017 summary of fireworks injuries, a total of 181 injuries were reported during the four-week period including the 4th of July.

“Make sure fireworks are only being handled by sober adults,” Markul said. “Once you’ve lighted a firework, get well away from it – never try to re-light one that’s not working or light multiple devices at once."

He advised not to forget about fire safety.

"Keep fireworks a safe distance away from people, houses, and anything flammable, and keep a hose or bucket of water handy to prevent fires. Always soak fireworks in water for several hours before throwing them out.”

Another easily overlooked hazard is foodborne bacteria, the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center warned. Failure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold can lead to food poisoning. The FDA warns that any perishables that have sat at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded – and that window goes down to one hour if the food is set out somewhere where the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Carelessness while grilling can also lead to food poisoning, so remember to use a thermometer to make sure meat is fully cooked, and keep anything that has touched raw meat away from other foods, the center said.

Since many Independence Day festivities take place outdoors, from parades to fireworks shows, Markul also reminded the public to take the usual precautions against other warm-weather hazards such as heat-related illness, skin cancer, drownings and insect-borne illnesses.

“Remember to stay hydrated and wear plenty of sunscreen with a minimum 30 SPF, even if it is cloudy overhead,” Markul said. “Don’t forget the bug spray, either – insect-borne infections like West Nile virus, Zika and Lyme disease are on the rise in the U.S. and both ticks and mosquitoes can bite at any time of day."

Markul urged parents to pay extra attention to where their kids are when swimming or boating, wear life jackets and save alcohol for later.

“Enjoy the holiday and make it memorable in a good way,” he said. “Don’t become another statistic because of unsafe decisions.”

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