Extreme heat and fireworks raise safety concerns for Fourth of July weekend

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — Health experts are urging people to take extra precautions this Fourth of July weekend as extreme heat, holiday travel, grilling and fireworks combine to increase the risk of injuries.

One of the biggest concerns is sparklers, which may appear harmless but are among the leading causes of firework-related burns.

Sparklers burn at temperatures between 1,200 and 2,000 degrees — hot enough to melt some metals.

Toni Scollins, a trauma injury and violence prevention coordinator with Novant Health, said many sparkler-related burns involve children because some adults mistakenly believe sparklers are safe for kids.

Scollins said children should never be left unsupervised while using sparklers.

“Make sure people are following the directions on all packaging. We want to make sure even if we are using sparklers and allowing children to play with sparklers that were observing them and not allowing children under 12 to play with them, grabbing them is the equivalent to grabbing a blow torch,” said Scollins.

Health experts said fireworks are not the only Fourth of July safety concern. They recommend keeping grills at least 10 feet away from homes, decks and dry vegetation to reduce the risk of fires.

They also encourage people to stay hydrated during periods of extreme heat, wear a life jacket while boating, keep a cellphone charged in case of an emergency and bring pets indoors during fireworks displays.

Novant Health said its Autumn Hall Express Care clinic is open 365 days a year, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.