Prevention Beat

 June 30, 2010

Thousands of people are treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries each year

Quick Facts:

• In 2008, fireworks caused an estimated 22,500 reported fires, including 1,400 total structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 20,600 outside and other fires.  
• In 2008, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 7,000 people for fireworks related injuries; 53% of 2008 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 37% were to the head.
• The risk of fireworks injury was highest for teens ages 15-19 and children 5-9, both with at least two-and-a-half times the risk for the general population.
• On Independence Day in a typical year, far more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day, and fireworks account for more than half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.

Our Kansas City Area Fire Departments, National Fire Protection Association and OHS-COMPCARE recommend that the best way to safely enjoy your 4^th of July Holiday is to watch a public fireworks display conducted by professionals.  However, if fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to host a fireworks display of your own, please be sure to follow important safety tips:

• Plan your firework display to make it safe and enjoyable.

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks.

• Older children should use fireworks only under close adult supervision.

• Keep fireworks in a closed box and use them one at a time.

• Read and follow the instructions on each firework.

• Light the firework at arm's length with a taper and maintain a safe distance after lighting.

• Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks.

• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.

• Keep water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that malfunction or in the event of a fire.

• Don't put fireworks in pockets, and never throw them.

• Direct any rocket fireworks well away from spectators, homes, and flammable materials.

• Make sure that all fires are put out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.

Don’t forget about your pets this 4^th of July Holiday!  Pets don’t like fireworks.  The flames and noise bother them.  To keep your pets safe over the 4^th of July Holiday, keep them indoors.  Make sure they cannot get out through open windows and doors.  Pets should wear collars with their information attached in the event that they are scared and run off.  Make sure they have plenty of food and water and toys to distract them from the noise outside.  Pets are family too and should be kept safe and comfortable this holiday season.

To learn more about fire work safety visit the NFPA website at http://www.nfpa.org/. 

Some local resources for firework safety include:  City of Gardner; City of Independence Fire Department; City of Kansas City MO; City of Lee’s Summit Fire Department;  City of Overland Park; Johnson County Fire District 1; Johnson County Sheriff Department; Lenexa Fire Department; Merriam Fire Department; Olathe Fire Department; Shawnee Fire Department.  These are just a few of the local resources with information posted on their websites.  If you have questions about fireworks safety and usage in your city, contact your local fire or police department.

Adult Quick Care will be closed on Monday July 5^th in observance of the 4^th of July holiday. 

We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday July 6^th. 

Please note… our Independence location will be open on Saturday July 3^rd from 9am – 1pm. 

On behalf of Adult Quick Care we wish you and your family a Happy and Healthy Holiday!!!

Adult Quick Care is now on Facebook!   You can find us by clicking here.  Become a fan to keep up with current happenings with AQC as well as Prevention Tips. 

*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*

To view the Tip of the Week in Spanish please visit our Tip of the Week library at http://www.ohscompcare.com/totw/. 

To learn more about services Adult Quick Care or OHS-COMPCARE has to offer, contact our Client Services Team at (816) 561-2105 option 1 or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com.  You can also visit us at www.adultquickcare.com or www.ohscompcare.com.

OHS-COMPCARE now featuring Adult Quick Care (Urgent Care Services) has seven (7) area clinical facilities:

Independence Clinical Facility	Johnson County Clinical Facility	St. Joseph Clinical Facility	Grandview Clinical Facility
19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200	10415 Lackman Road	904 Edmond Street	13830 S Us Highway 71
Independence, MO 64055	Lenexa, KS 66219	St. Joseph, MO 64501	Grandview, MO 64030
816-478-9299	913-495-9905	816-233-7702	816-761-4664
After Hours Available *Now open Saturday 9am – 1pm
KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility	KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility	Wyandotte County Clinical Facility
1650 Broadway	6501 East Commerce, Suite 110	1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64108	Kansas City, MO 64120	Kansas City, KS  66102
816-842-2020	816-483-5550	913-596-2774

Adult Quick Care provides Urgent Care to Adults and Adolescents Age 14 and Older. 

No appointment is necessary at Adult Quick Care.

When you are sick or have a new injury, Adult Quick Care is your affordable, time saving choice for quality care.

To learn more about Adult Quick Care please call 816-559-6320 or visit www.adultquickcare.com.