Independence Day is celebrated in the great outdoors. Picnics, parties and beach shindigs are popular for the holiday.
With all of the outdoor fun, how can you keep your family safe?
First, leave the fireworks shows to the professionals. Please don't use fireworks at home. They aren't worth the risk. There were 10,000 fireworks-related injuries in 2015. Sparklers reach 2000 degrees, so give your kids glow sticks instead. If your family insists on having fireworks in the backyard, be prepared for incidents. Keep viewers away from the lighting area. Have water buckets, a fire extinguisher or hose handy. Drink after the fireworks are over.
Second, biting bugs are rampant in the outdoor experience. Of the 3000 species of mosquitoes, only a few like to pester people. The problem is that those pests carry diseases. Get rid of stagnant water in your yard. Fix window screens so bugs can't come in the house. Don't dress your children in colorful outfits because those colors are bug targets.
Don't combine insect repellent and sunscreen together for your outdoor activities. Apply sunscreen first and let it soak in. Apply the insect repellent later. Be sure you don't apply chemical insect repellent to your baby.
Finally, watch out for stings. Know any bee and wasp sensitivities and be prepared for allergies. Generally, you can use a credit card to flick out a stinger. Clean the site with gentle soap and water. Apply some antihistamine cream or cortisone ointment if it still hurts.
Listen in as Dr. Deborah Mulligan shares how you can have a happy and safe holiday.
Independence Day Safety
Featuring:
Dr. Deborah Mulligan received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco, Medical Doctorate from the University of California Los Angeles and completed pediatric emergency medicine training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
As Director of the Institute for Child Health Policy and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Nova Southeastern University, she reports directly to the Chancellor. The Institute is a resource for communities, policy makers, public and private agencies, professional organizations, foundations, and academic institutions.
To be an optimal reserve, the ICHP at NSU conducts professional training and education, demonstration projects, engages in translational community-based participatory quantitative and qualitative research, developing evidence-based public policy, participating in and serving as a venue to nurture community-based advocacy and research.www.nova.edu/ichp.
The work emanating from ICHP has been recognized through coveted federal agency awards such as the SAMHSA Excellence in Community Communications and Outreach (ECCO) Gold award. Board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, past experience as physician executive includes role of Pediatric Services Medical Director for nation's fourth largest safety net hospital system serving a county of 1.6 million residents.
Deborah Mulligan, MD
Dr. Deborah Mulligan received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco, Medical Doctorate from the University of California Los Angeles and completed pediatric emergency medicine training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.As Director of the Institute for Child Health Policy and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Nova Southeastern University, she reports directly to the Chancellor. The Institute is a resource for communities, policy makers, public and private agencies, professional organizations, foundations, and academic institutions.
To be an optimal reserve, the ICHP at NSU conducts professional training and education, demonstration projects, engages in translational community-based participatory quantitative and qualitative research, developing evidence-based public policy, participating in and serving as a venue to nurture community-based advocacy and research.www.nova.edu/ichp.
The work emanating from ICHP has been recognized through coveted federal agency awards such as the SAMHSA Excellence in Community Communications and Outreach (ECCO) Gold award. Board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, past experience as physician executive includes role of Pediatric Services Medical Director for nation's fourth largest safety net hospital system serving a county of 1.6 million residents.