Burns are among the most common injuries treated around the Fourth of July, and even a seemingly harmless sparkler or a hot piece of debris from a firework can cause serious damage.
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Sparklers burn at temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt metal, and in some cases, can lead to life-threatening burns.
At the N.C. Jaycee Burn Center, fireworks-related injuries spike around the holiday. Since 2016, the center has admitted 122 patients for fireworks-related burns. The center admits about four patients a day in July, twice that on the Fourth of July and the day after. Many of the non-fireworks holiday injuries involve grilling accidents, campfires, brush fires and holiday cooking.
The News & Observer spoke with burn specialists about when and how to safely treat a burn at home and the common myths that can make an injury worse.
If you’re burned by a sparkler or other firework, Derek Miller, nurse education specialist for burn outreach and prevention at the Jaycee Burn Center, recommends the following steps to reduce the impact:
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Get medical care for second-degree and third-degree burns, since they have longer healing times and a higher risk of infection.
Dr. Felicia Williams, a burn surgeon and associate professor in the Department of Surgery at UNC-Chapel Hill, said common at-home remedies such as butter, oil, shortening and toothpaste do not help burns heal and can make treatment more difficult.
These makeshift treatments can trap heat in the skin and worsen the injury, making it harder for medical providers to properly clean the wound. Williams recommends seeking medical care if there is any uncertainty about the severity of a burn.
Burns can also take up to 48 hours to fully develop, meaning an injury that might look minor can later worsen as blisters form or as deeper damage becomes visible. So when in doubt, get professional medical help.
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