Avoid Preventable Accidents during Independence Day Celebrations

CHICAGO, July 2, 2018 – Independence Day is approaching, and with it the opportunity to celebrate with family, friends, food, fireworks, and more. However, the holiday also ranks as one of the most dangerous in America according to the National Safety Council, with hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries reported every year.

“Hospitals across the country treat thousands of cases around July 4th,” says Dr. Eddie Markul, an emergency medicine physician at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. “The most common hazards are car accidents–many related to drunk driving–and fireworks injuries, but we also see water-related accidents, heatstroke and food and alcohol poisoning. The most important way to ensure it’s a fun holiday is to make sure you and your loved ones celebrate safely.”

Dr. Markul says one of the keys to Independence Day safety is being responsible about alcohol consumption.

“Excessive alcohol consumption at any social gathering can quickly lead to severe dehydration and even alcohol poisoning,” he says. “However, 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. 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. 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 Independence Day, causing four deaths and nearly 11,000 injuries in 2016, according to the National Safety Council. The best way to prevent burns and injuries is to enjoy a public fireworks display, but if you do set off your own, be sure to follow some basic safety rules.

“Make sure fireworks are only being handled by sober adults,” says Dr. Markul. “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. Also, don’t 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. 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.

Since many Fourth of July festivities take place outdoors, from parades to fireworks shows, Dr. Markul also reminds 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,” says Dr. Markul. “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. If you’re swimming or boating, pay extra attention to where your children are, and save alcohol for later. Always wear a life jacket when you’re on a boat.”

Dr. Markul urges everyone to keep these safety tips in mind to avoid an emergency over Independence Day.

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

###

About Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center is part of Advocate Health Care (Advocate), the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest Accountable Care Organizations in the country. A national leader in population health management, Advocate operates nearly 400 sites of care and 12 hospitals, including three of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, the state’s largest integrated children’s network, five Level I trauma centers (the state’s highest designation in trauma care), three Level II trauma centers, one of the area’s largest home health and hospice companies and one of the region’s largest medical groups. Advocate trains more primary care physicians and residents at its four teaching hospitals than any other health system in the state. As a not-for-profit, mission-based health system affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, Advocate contributed $692 million in charitable care and services to communities across Chicagoland and Central Illinois in 2016. Advocate is part of Advocate Aurora Health, the 10th largest not-for-profit, integrated health system in the United States. We help people live well. To learn more about Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, please visit us: www.advocatehealth.com/immc.