As people head out to celebrate Independence Day with a long weekend, the team at Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) reminds everyone that if their plans include fireworks at home, some of which have recently been made legal to sell in certain counties in New York State, to strictly follow safety rules and avoid injury.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, fireworks injuries to the hand were the most common at 33%. It is not uncommon for a blast injury to the hand or fingers that cannot be reconstructed.
The following safety precautions are advised:
- Only discharge the types of fireworks that are legal for your location.
- Light fireworks outdoors, in a clear area, away from residential neighborhoods, dry leaves or grass and flammable materials.
- Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies. Pour water on fireworks that do not ignite properly.
- Be sure others are out of range before lighting fireworks.
- Never ignite fireworks in containers, especially ones made of glass or metal.
- Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak in water and throw away.
- Never allow young children to play with or go near fireworks. This includes sparklers, which seem harmless, but can be dangerous if not used properly.
The best precaution of all is to leave the fireworks to the professionals and take the family to a local community display.
The experts at SOS PLUS After Hours Care are easily accessible for those in need of care this summer. A walk-in orthopedic medical clinic that treats patients of all ages with acute orthopedic conditions requiring immediate attention, SOS Plus now has two locations to better serve patients, at 5719 Widewaters Parkway in Dewitt and 5000 West Seneca Turnpike in Onondaga Hill.
Please note the SOS PLUS hours during the holiday weekend:
Thursday, July 2nd 2015:
SOS PLUS Dewitt Open 5PM-8:30PM
SOS PLUS Onondaga Hill Closed
Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th 2015:
Both SOS PLUS locations are CLOSED
Sunday, July 5th 2015:
Both SOS PLUS locations are open 10AM-2PM