We’ve waited for it all winter — and now summer is finally here! A long 4th of July holiday weekend with beautiful, sunny weather is expected.  While we anticipate fun at the lake, picnics, and celebrations — injuries can stop fun in its tracks.  Most injuries are entirely avoidable, so a little prevention goes a long way to help you keep you and your loved ones safe.

“Over the 4th of July, we often see injuries related to drinking too much alcohol,” explains Hennepin County Medical Center emergency physician Dr. James Miner. “But there’s also  summertime trauma like motorcycle and car accidents,  boating accidents, and fireworks injuries.  Of course we see more fireworks injuries over the 4th of July holiday than any other time of the year, and these are usually eye injuries and burns.”

Some simple precautions surrounding the use of fireworks can help keep you out of the emergency department:

• Always have a bucket of water or hose handy.
• Never give fireworks to young children.
• Light fireworks a safe distance from people and flammables.
• Never try to relight a dud.
• Never carry fireworks in your pockets.
• Place used firework pieces in a metal container and douse with water.

These safety tips and more are available on HCMC’s Outdoor Safety web page at hcmc.org/outdoors.  Have a safe, happy,  fun 4th of July weekend!

Verified since 1989 as a Level I Trauma Center for adult and pediatric patients, Hennepin County Medical Center is a comprehensive academic medical center and public teaching hospital with the largest emergency department in the state. In addition to the 462-bed acute care hospital and primary care and specialty clinics located in downtown Minneapolis, Hennepin offers primary care clinics in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County.