Local doctor provides safety tips for Fourth of July

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations, a Memorial Health medical professional wants to make sure you are avoiding a trip to the hospital.

Dr. Jay Goldstein, Assistant Medical Director with Memorial Health, said the hospital sees tons of injuries during the holiday.

“We see tons of injuries whether it’s near drownings, firework, or heat-related injuries,” Goldstein said.

To avoid ruining your weekend, steer clear of using alcohol when dealing with fireworks, do not keep a lit firework in your hand and never relight a firework.

Parents may think children can handle sparklers because of its small size, but Goldstein says they still can still pose a threat.

“They burn at like 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, so they are significant and high powered,” he explained. “They look fun and they are fun, but they can catch clothing on fire. You can get burns from them significantly.”

Goldstein said if you do get a mild to moderate burn, you can usually handle it at home.

“If you are burning and it’s on your clothes…ember on your body…you want to remove that as quickly as possible,” he said. “You want to start running cold water on it, if possible. We don’t recommend putting it in an ice bath, putting a significant amount of ice on it especially in larger areas.”

But, how do you know when you should go to the emergency room?

“I think if you ever have doubt and you’re questioning, I think the safest thing to do is go to the emergency department,” Goldstein said. “Sometimes there is phone directed messages advice from certain consumer hotlines that can maybe help you with that. I would not tell anybody that feels like they need to seek treatment to not seek treatment.”

According to the Savannah Fire Department, make sure you have a bucket of water or hose just in case of a fire starts or a firework malfunctions.