Fireworks, Food, and the Fourth of July!

The Fourth of July is right around the corner and there are a lot of things that can go wrong when you’re camping, picnicking, or family reunioning. Not to rain on anyone’s Fourth of July parade, but there are some things everyone should be wary of in the midst of the festivities. I’ve seen a lot of crazy Independence Day celebrations and seen a lot of things go wrong. Here are some mistakes people make on the Fourth of July:

1. Drinking too much. Many adults raise a glass in celebration of our nation’s independence, and unfortunately, many adults will binge drink. Binge drinking means drinking more than 5 alcoholic beverages in one sitting for men and more than 4 alcoholic beverages in one sitting for women. According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use is the 3^rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death.

Like drinking and driving, drinking and fireworks DO NOT MIX. If you’re drinking feel free to go to a professional fireworks show, but don’t try to set them off yourself. Please.

2. Carelessly using fireworks. 60% of injuries related to fireworks occur on or around the 4^th of July (Green & Joholske, 2006). In the months of June and July, firecrackers, sparklers, and rockets account for most injuries seen in emergency departments, and sparklers are associated with half of the injuries seen in children under 5 (Green & Joholske, 2006). And the best way to prevent firework-related injuries? Leave them to the professionals!

3. Eating contaminated or spoiled food. Be wary of food that’s been sitting out in the sun too long, especially if it’s a mayonnaise-based salad, dairy product, or meat product. Even if a food has been washed and cooked thoroughly, bacteria flourish at room (and warmer) temperature. If you can, try to keep leftovers cool or throw them away.

Also, even if you love your burgers rare, ground beef is a common culprit for food-related illness. Make sure the internal temperature of your hamburgers is a balmy 160 degrees Fahrenheit to keep yourself safe from bacteria.

Obviously these aren’t the only things that can go wrong on the 4^th. I urge you to be safe and wary as you “eat, drink, and be merry!”