UMMC urges fireworks safety this fourth of July

As Independence Day approaches, residents across Mississippi are loading up on fireworks to celebrate the nation’s independence with no shortage of spectacle. But those pyrotechnics bring inherent risks.

Dr. Richard Summers, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said he’s seen fewer fireworks-related injuries in recent years, but with the Fourth of July a couple of days away, he cautions Mississippians not to let down their guard. Though seldom, injuries caused by fireworks accidents are significant, he said.

“Particular injuries that we worry about are ones that involve the eyes or hands or burns,” he said. “We recommend adult supervision at all times, wear protective goggles and also don’t ever light a firework while holding it in your hand.”

Celebrating the Fourth of July can be fun and safe, Summers says, as long as people exercise appropriate caution and control.