FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The Fourth of July is exactly one week away.
As residents plan for the celebrations, a local doctor warns of the many dangers popping fireworks can bring.
“We want everyone to enjoy their Fourth of July celebrations this summer and have to avoid having to come see us in the emergency department,” said Dr. Andrew Krause, Emergency Medicine Physician at Kaiser Permanente in Fresno.
Last year alone, there were nearly 10,000 injuries nationwide caused by fireworks.
Dr. Krause says the Fourth of July is commonly one of the busiest times for emergency rooms,
“We want everyone who’s using fireworks to make sure they do so safely.”
In the unfortunate event that a mishap does occur, it is recommended to have water easily accessible.
It’s also best to wear eye protection.
“Around this time of year, we always see some eye injuries come in,” Krause said.
They also see injuries to the hands and fingers. They recommend that children should avoid handling fireworks.