With Fourth of July weekend upon us, summer fun is in full swing. While this weekend brings families together for cookouts and celebrations, we know there are also risks to look out for.

Home firework shows can quickly turn a weekend of fun into a trip to the emergency department.

Ellen Walston, Injury Prevention Program coordinator at ECU Health Medical Center, said that in North Carolina last year, 11,500 people visited an emergency department for a firework-related injury. Of those visits, 70 percent came in July.

“July is the most dangerous month for firework injuries and actually many injuries occur in the summer months,” Walston said. “It’s a very fun time of the year with lots of vacationing, traveling, it’s time to spend with family, but you need to keep safety in the forefront.”

She said the key to safety this time of year is supervision, whether it is around water, fireworks or any other activity with increased risks. Keeping a close eye on children can help limit injury risk.

Walston also noted that many would be surprised to learn that sparklers burn at 2,000 degrees and can easily cause severe burns. Even after sparklers are done burning, they can still be up 450 degrees for minutes after they are extinguished.

“Many times parents don’t realize how dangerous sparklers are because they’re fun,” Walston said. “Children will often run around with the sparklers and may accidentally touch another child with a hot tip. That can be very dangerous.”

This year, there are a couple of particular risk factors that make this season a bit more dangerous. Fire hazards are higher than usual with the recent drought we have faced in eastern North Carolina and with Fourth of July falling on a Monday, many families will take advantage of the long weekend to have a longer celebration.

“We want you to have fun, this is a fun time of year. But we are at a greater risk for increased injuries. We just ask for families to be as careful as possible,” Walston said. “With COVID, we are excited to be able to get out, vacation, spend time with family, but we really need supervision to be at the forefront.”

Walston said letting professionals handle the fireworks is the best and safest way to enjoy the sights while celebrating the holiday. Visit your local municipal website to find firework shows in your area.