News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville Regional Medical Center is urging people to be safe when handling fireworks on the 4th of July.
Emergency Department Physician Samantha McLerran said across the country more than 15,000 fireworks-related injuries occur each July 4th. She said hand burns are seen most often.
“Always douse your fireworks, even if you think they’re out please do that,” McLerran said. “Never hold a firework in your hand, don’t point it at anyone, do not use fireworks with alcohol, and don’t try to relight a firework.”
McLerran said there has been a major increase in injuries since the pandemic because the lack of professionally set up shows led many people to try setting off fireworks on their own and doing so unsafely.
“We see in our department at least several minor injuries, usually to hands and fingers,” McLerran said. “Hopefully nothing major, but statistically we will have at least one major firework-related injury a year.”
McLerran said to make sure small children and pets are okay to be around fireworks and not be overstimulated or stressed by the light and noise.
“It’s a great thing to do with family, but they are very stressful on small children and pets,” McLerran said. “It can really affect their ears and their anxiety levels, it affects them more than we realize.”
McLerran said personally her biggest recommendation is to never let children play with sparklers.
