The UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill is preparing for some of its busiest days of the year as North Carolinians celebrate the Fourth of July. Dr. Booker T. King, division chief of Burn Surgery Services at UNC Health, said the burn center usually admits two to four patients a day, but around the Fourth of July, that number often doubles.
Fireworks Safety Concerns
According to Dr. King, about one-third of the patients treated during the holiday are children. He warned that sparklers, often considered a safer alternative to larger fireworks, are actually the most common cause of pediatric fireworks injuries treated at the burn center.
Teenagers and adults often suffer even more severe injuries, including those caused by more powerful fireworks that are not legal to use in North Carolina. Dr. King urged parents not to leave children unsupervised around fireworks and to keep them away from flammable materials.
If someone is burned, Dr. King advised wrapping the wound in a clean, dry dressing and getting the person to an emergency room immediately.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
