Trauma experts share how to keep your family safe this 4th of July

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) — Trauma experts like Valerie Quick with University of Virginia (UVA) Health and first responders in Virginia are gearing up for July 4.

“70% of firework injuries happen on July 4th,” Quick said.

Even though local healthcare professionals said Virginia generally only sees a handful of these incidents a year, Quick urges people to take the risks of fireworks seriously. Quick said that, last year, almost 10,000 people visited Emergency Departments across the country with firework-related injuries.

“Most of those are going to be in the teen age group,” Quick said.

Eight of these victims lost their lives — one of those tragic deaths happened in Louisa County.

Quick said that even smaller-scale sparklers – which many perceive as being ‘kid-friendly’ – burn at a scorching 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case there’s a fire or mishap,” Quick said.

Quick shared what to do if sparks go flying.

“Just be really careful with the skin underneath, especially with clothing, having a lot of different materials sometimes that can melt the clothing,” Quick said. “If there are large area burns, you don’t want to flood that too much with water, because that can actually cause hypothermia.”

For those who want to stay home and avoid crowds, Quick recommends alternatives to sparklers and firecrackers like confetti, glow sticks or streamers to keep the energy alive without sacrificing safety.

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