Staten Island Fourth of July Injury Prevention: Fireworks Are Not Toys and Are Illegal in New York City

As the 4^th of July approaches, the first "Big Blast" of summer, children and adults look forward to the beach, barbeques and fireworks. With the busy day ahead, the 4^th of July has the potential to be dangerous. We hope that these simple tips will ensure that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Fireworks - Fireworks are not toys and are illegal in New York City. If you are found to be transporting fireworks in your car, the New York City Police Department will confiscate the fireworks, arrest you and seize your car. Fireworks are dangerous and can cause serious burn and eye injuries. That's why the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and local governments strongly recommend: Leave fireworks to the professionals!

Remember, all consumer fireworks are illegal. This includes sparklers that are mistakenly thought to be safe. Sparklers actually burn at extremely high temperatures which can rapidly burn through clothing and skin.

Barbeque - Another important area to remember is food safety at your 4^th of July barbeque. Food safety is extremely important when serving items like potato salad or macaroni salad. You must remember to keep foods with mayonnaise cold or salmonella could set in. Steer clear of pasta and potato salads containing mayonnaise that has been left out for more than two hours. If it's above 90° F, then one hour is the limit. Salmonella can cause nausea and vomiting but can also cause more serious complications in children and the elderly. Also remember to cook chicken and hamburgers well done.

Crowds - Many families are planning to go to fireworks displays with their children.

While this can be an enjoyable time for your family, it can also be a parent's worst nightmare. Please keep your children safe by following these few tips on how to keep your children safe in large crowds during the 4th of July.

Hold Hands - The simple act of holding hands with your children can make the difference between a happy family outing and a desperate search for a lost child.

Use Strollers - Strollers are great at keeping your child in a safe and secure location, with you pushing it, while you are trying to navigate through large crowds. You won't have to worry about losing your grip on your child's little hand.

Place Identification on Your Child - When you and your family are going to be in a large crowd, you should have some sort of identification on your child. You need to have your address, your phone numbers and any medical problems that your child may have attached to your child somewhere, such as in a pocket or pin it directly to their shirt. If your child gets separated from you, this will allow an adult to contact you immediately.

Finding a Police Officer - Explain to your child about looking for a police officer if they ever become separated from you. Tell your child to make sure that they tell the police officer that they are lost and to show the police officer the identification information that you had previously attached to your child.

From the staff at Decker, Decker, Dito & Internicola, LLP, please have a wonderful 4^th of July Holiday. Be safe and have fun! Speak with you next month.