Key risks, precautions to keep families, children safe during Fourth of July celebrations

HOUSTON – Everyone wants to have fun during the Fourth of July celebrations, but we cannot stress the important safety warnings enough to keep families safe during this holiday weekend.

From burns on BBQ grills to sunburns, and even coals in the sand, the risks on July 4th are real and can ruin the fun.

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Here are the key risks and precautions to be aware of, according to Shriners Children’s Texas Hospital:

Burn Risks and Precautions

• Burns from BBQ grills are common, especially when children help or are close to hot grills or stoves.
• Hot coals buried in sand at beaches or campgrounds can cause severe burns to children’s hands and feet.

Fireworks cause the most complicated burns and can spread fire quickly, so keep these fireworks' safety tips in mind:

• Attend public fireworks displays instead of handling fireworks yourself.
• Keep children at a safe distance from fireworks.
• Offer glow sticks as a safe alternative to sparklers.
• Always have water or a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Never try to relight fireworks that didn’t go off.

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Hearing Safety from Fireworks Noise

• Fireworks can produce noise levels of 140 to 175 decibels, which is harmful to hearing.
• Many people do not wear hearing protection during fireworks, risking irreversible damage to the cochlea.

“Fireworks can have 140 to 175 decibels of noise pollution,” Bruce Powell, audiologist at Hearing USA, warns. ”Unfortunately, many people don’t wear hearing protection during the 4th of July, and that can cause irreversible damage to the hairs in the cochlea that transfer sound.”

Eyes & Ears!

If your ears ring (tinnitus) for days after exposure, see a doctor for a hearing checkup.

“That’s called tinnitus,” Powell explained. “It means some hairs inside the cochlea have been damaged. Sometimes it comes back, but if the ringing lasts for days, it’s important to get your hearing checked. That way, we can see if your hearing levels have shifted and set a baseline to monitor it. Hearing loss is actually the fourth largest health impairment in the U.S., so it’s really important to take it seriously.”

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A final warning is to watch your eyes! Injured eyeballs from fireworks are the main injury seen by Memorial Hermann during this time.

Enjoy the Fourth of July celebrations, but please stay safe by protecting your eyes, skin, hands, feet, and ears from preventable injuries.