Enjoy the Sun and Fireworks Safely this July 4th

July 4^th is this weekend and many Americans have outdoor plans. Each year, fireworks send 230 people on average to the emergency room (ER). The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is offering some fireworks safety tips on its website to help make sure Americans enjoy the sunshine and avoid the hospital.

-Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

-Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.

-Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents do not realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.

-Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.

-Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.

-Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

-Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

-Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.

-Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

-After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

-Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

Of course, nothing burns hotter than the sun, and many consumers purchase aerosol sunscreen for protection because of its convenience. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning, however, that spray sunscreen offers spotty coverage, and can be dangerous if inhaled. The products can even trigger asthma attacks in some children.

“I think the best solution is that you apply the sun lotion and the lotion for them so it prevents the aerosol, it prevents those particulars from going in the lung and sometimes they have a zinc and that can irritate the lungs,” Dr. Salim Surani, a Corpus Christi, Texas, physician told KRISTV.com.

Instead, Dr. Surani recommends lotions with SPF, covering up with clothing, and spending time in the shade when possible, KRISTV.com reported.

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