By Dr. Jeremy Driscoll | Thoughts on Innovation
The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. It’s a chance to slow down, spend time with family and enjoy everything that makes summer fun
It’s also one of the busiest weekends of the year in the emergency department.
People often assume we’re treating dramatic fireworks accidents all day. We certainly see those, but they’re only part of the story. Many of the patients who come through our doors are there because of things they never expected: dehydration after spending hours outside, a child who slipped into a pool unnoticed, someone who underestimated the combination of heat and alcohol or a burn that happened while grilling dinner.
Most of these visits have one thing in common. They were preventable.
If I could offer just a few pieces of advice before the holiday, I’d start with the heat.
Living in Arizona, it’s easy to think we’re used to triple-digit temperatures. But your body doesn’t care how long you’ve lived here. Spending several hours outside, especially if you’re celebrating with alcohol, can lead to dehydration much faster than people realize. One of the first signs isn’t always feeling thirsty. It may be a headache, dizziness, fatigue or simply feeling “off.” That’s your body’s way of telling you it needs a break.
If you’re drinking alcohol, alternate every drink with water and don’t wait until you feel dehydrated to start hydrating.
One thing that always sticks with me is how many people apologize when they arrive in the emergency department. They’ll tell me, “I knew I should have taken a break,” or, “I only turned my back for a second.” That’s why I encourage people to think ahead instead of assuming nothing will happen. Most holiday emergencies don’t begin with someone making a reckless decision. They happen when good people let their guard down for just a moment.
The second thing I think about is water safety.
Whether you’re at a backyard pool, the Salt River or one of Arizona’s lakes, drowning is often silent. It doesn’t look like it does in the movies. Children can slip underwater in seconds without anyone noticing. That’s why I encourage families to assign one adult to actively watch the water instead of assuming everyone is keeping an eye on the kids. Even confident swimmers can get into trouble.
Of course, we also see our share of fireworks injuries.
One of the biggest surprises for people is that sparklers aren’t harmless. They can burn at temperatures hot enough to cause serious injuries, especially to young children. If you’re using fireworks, keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby and leave the lighting to sober adults. Better yet, enjoy one of the many professional fireworks shows happening across the Valley.
Finally, don’t forget about the grill.
We’ve treated burns from flare-ups, cuts from grill tools and foodborne illnesses that started with potato salad sitting in the Arizona sun for a little too long. One thing I want people to know that often gets overlooked: skip the metal bristle grill brushes. Those bristles can break off, stick to the grill grates, and end up in your food without you ever knowing it. Swallowing a metal bristle can lodge in your throat or elsewhere in your digestive tract, and that is absolutely an emergency room visit. A nylon grill brush or a bristle-free brush does the job just as well and won’t send anyone to the hospital. Keep cold foods cold, cook meats thoroughly and remember that food left out in the heat doesn’t stay safe for very long.
I don’t share these things to scare anyone.
The Fourth of July should be fun. My hope is simply that you spend the holiday making memories with your family instead of spending part of it in the emergency department.
A little planning, plenty of water and paying attention to the people around you can go a long way toward making sure everyone gets home safely.
Editor’s note: Dr. Jeremy Driscoll is an emergency medicine physician with HonorHealth, dedicated to delivering timely, compassionate care and supporting patients through critical health situations with clinical expertise and professionalism.
