With summer comes Independence Day, and with Independence Day comes fireworks.
The safest way to view fireworks is always at a professional show. Before lighting any bottle rockets or sparklers at home this 4th of July, be sure to brush up on your safety tips.
• Stay outside -- When using fireworks of any kind, be sure to use them outdoors and away from the house.
• Keep water on hand -- Always have a large bucket of water or a water hose -- or both -- nearby just in case stray sparks get out of hand or something shoots in the wrong direction.
• Don't relight fireworks -- Sometimes, fireworks don't go off properly after you light the fuse. Don't try to light it again. Instead, soak stalled fireworks in water and dispose of them.
• Never let young children handle fireworks -- This is the most important tip of the bunch. Young children should never be allowed to handle or light fireworks, and older children should be very closely supervised. Always have a parent or other responsible adult at hand.
Many fireworks get hot enough to melt glass, so having one burn your skin is no small matter. If playing it safe fails and an injury occurs, you should see your family doctor or go to your local urgent care or emergency room as quickly as possible.
If the injury is a burn, run cool water over it before you leave your home. If it is an eye injury, don't touch it or flush it with water -- seek immediate medical attention.
Northwest Health Urgent Care in Siloam Springs is available on the Fourth of July, in the evenings and on the weekends. No appointment is needed and the clinic is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays at 3721 E. U.S. 412 Hwy., Suite B, Siloam Springs (located less than one mile west of intersection Highway 412 and Arkansas Highway 59).
The emergency room at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is here for you and your family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn more about our services, visit NorthwestHealth.com today.
Fun fireworks alternatives
If you don't want to take the risk that comes with lighting fireworks, but don't want your kids missing out on holiday fun, there are several less dangerous alternatives.
• Go see a fireworks show -- Watch your local news for announcements of fireworks shows in your area.
• Glow sticks -- Just as bright and fun as sparklers, glow sticks are widely available and often inexpensive. They also come without the glass-melting temperatures required to make sparklers shine.
• Glow-in-the-dark body paint -- Whether you buy nontoxic body paint from the store or use one of many do-it-yourself recipes online, these paints can let your children be their own sparklers.
• Flashlights -- While not quite as colorful as fireworks, flashlights can make for a great, and safe, after-dark game of tag.
About Siloam Springs Regional Hospital
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is a 73 licensed bed facility with 42 private patient rooms. It is accredited by the State of Arkansas Department of Health Services and The Joint Commission. Some services include inpatient and outpatient surgery, emergency medicine, medical, surgical and intensive care units, obstetrics, outpatient diagnostic services and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. With more than 40 physicians on the medical staff, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital provides compassionate, customer-focused care. SSRH is an affiliate of Northwest Health, one of the largest health networks in Northwest Arkansas, and through that affiliation is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a select group of independent health systems that work closely with Mayo Clinic to improve the delivery of health care and better serve their patients and their communities. Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is located at 603 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs. For more information, visit NorthwestHealth.com.
Editorial on 07/04/2018