Dr Ryan Rice - Firework And 4th Of July Safety

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If your favorite Fourth of July parade was canceled or socially distant fireworks are on the horizon next week, kudos for your commitment to staying healthy during one of the most traditionally social holidays of the year. If you’ll be creating your own fun this July Fourth, you’re not alone: last week, a national report suggested that fireworks use has increased significantly this year, which for many may feel like a declaration of their own independence after weeks of isolation indoors. However it’s important to emphasize that where there are pyrotechnics, there can be peril. A statistic from 2018 suggests that nearly 10,000 people sought care for fireworks-related injuries surrounding the Fourth of July that year. Probably not surprising is that one-third of those incidents occurred to the hands and arms. With hand-related cases making up approximately 25 percent of his practice, Dr. Ryan Rice of Penn Highlands Plastic, Reconstructive, and Cosmetic Surgery serves up safety tips for your Independence Day weekend, whether it will be explosive with action or a little more pared-down than usual. Rice’s first word of caution is that while it might seem obvious that most July 4 hand injuries would result from playing with fireworks, he also sees plenty of patients seeking care after a summertime mishap in the kitchen.