Raleigh County, WV (WOAY) – While July 4 is always such a blast, one must also consider safety.
From fireworks to outdoor activities, ATVs, food, and hot weather — Beckley ARH shared how to stay safe this Independence Day.
Ensure you are not lighting fireworks with children around, and have a cooling mechanism nearby in case anyone touches anything. Beckley ARH sees many hand burns with people using small lighters.
“As opposed to longer sticks, and they get flash burns,” said Director of ER Services Shanon Berry. “A lot of them are either gas-related because they put gasoline in. Gas creates fumes, and they come in here with large burns to small, minor burns from lighting.”
The hospital says they also see a ton of mostly helmet-related ATV accidents.
“That causes rollovers, they get pinned underneath because they’re not wearing their seatbelt,” Berry said. “They didn’t have a helmet on, and they’re drinking and driving. That doesn’t just count for your vehicle out on the road. That counts for your ATV as well.”
Wear a life jacket in water, whether it’s a pool, river, or lake. Don’t leave children unattended and be cautious of swimmers when you are out on a boat.
“Make sure that you’re visible, that somebody can see you while you’re out in the water, especially when boats are around,” said Berry. “Making sure everybody’s in sight and calling for help right away. Especially when you’re in a rural area near a lake, it’s going to take a little while for somebody to get to you.”
Don’t leave meats in a hot car on the way to a cookout, follow the USDA’s safe minimum internal temperature chart, and remove food from the table that’s been sitting for more than an hour in 90-plus degrees. Store your meats safely, wash your hands when dealing with raw meat, and stay hydrated in these hot temperatures.
“Feel like you’re getting too hot, and become dizzy. We’re going to sit down and not continue to be out in the sun when we don’t feel well, and continue to soak in that heat,” Berry said. “We get a lot of heat exhaustion, especially with our older population, making sure we’re there to offer them something to drink and some shade.”
July 4th marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and a day of celebration.
“It’s a holiday,” said the Director of ER Services. “Enjoy yourself, but try to be safe out there. Have safety on your brain. And we’re here if you need us.”
