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HAVE A SAFE & HEALTHY
SUMMER! |
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Every year Americans look forward to
summer vacations, camping, family reunions, picnics, and the Fourth
of July. Summertime, however, also brings drownings, fires and injuries
from
fireworks and grills, and seasonal illnesses.1 Keep yourself
and your loved ones safe and healthy as you head for summer!
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EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT HEALTH DISPARITIES |
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Water-Related Fatalities |
| Swimming and other water-related
activities are excellent ways to get the physical activity needed for
a healthy life, and millions of people enjoy oceans, lakes, rivers,
pools, and spas each year.3
But in 2006, there were 3,579 fatal drownings in the
United States, averaging 10 deaths per day. This does not include drownings in boating-related incidents.4 |
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In 2007, American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN)
had an age-adjusted drowning death rate of 2.2 per 100,000, 1.7
times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic whites (1.3 per
100,000).5 |
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AI/AN males were especially at risk for drowning in
2007, with an age-adjusted death rate of 3.4 per 100,000, compared
to 2.1 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic white males.5 |
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In 2007, African American children ages 5 to 19 years
were 2 times more likely to drown as non-Hispanic white children
in the same age group (African Americans: 1.6 per
100,000 vs. whites: 0.8 per 100,000).5 |
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In 2007, males of all races were 3 times more likely
to drown than were females, with an age-adjusted drowning death rate
of 2.1 per 100,000 (compared to females: 0.7 per 100,000).5 |
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In 2007, children 0-4 years were 2 times more likely
to drown than those ages 5 and higher (0-4 years:
2.6; 5+ years: 1.3).5
As of 2006, Fatal drowning remained the second-leading cause of
unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.4 |
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Fireworks-Related Injuries |
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission estimates that about 7,000 people were treated in
emergency rooms in 2008 for injuries associated with fireworks. Most
injuries involved the hands and fingers, eyes, and legs.6
From June 20 - July 20 2008, there were an estimated 900
injuries associated with firecrackers, 800 injuries associated with
sparklers and 300 with bottle rockets.
More than half of the injuries were burns.6 The U.S. Fire
Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Data Center estimates that
improper use of fireworks caused more than 23,000 fires and cost more than
$35 million in damage in 2002.7 |
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70% of fireworks-related injuries in 2008
occurred between June 20 and July 20 (5,000). Men were
disproportionately affected, sustaining 62% of all fireworks injuries
during this time period.6 |
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Children are also disproportionably affected; Children & young adults
under 20 sustained 58% of all fireworks injuries from June 20 - July
20, 2008; 40% of persons injured from fireworks during
that time period were children under the age of 15.6 |
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WHAT YOU CAN DO |
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Water Safety Tips |
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injuries: 4 |
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SUPERVISION. Designate a responsible adult to watch
young children while in the bath and all children swimming or playing
in or around water. Supervisors of preschool children should provide
“touch supervision”, be close enough to reach the child at all times.
Adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity (such
as reading, playing cards, talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn)
while supervising children. |
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Always swim with a buddy. Select swimming sites that
have lifeguards whenever possible. |
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Avoid Alcohol before or during swimming, boating,
waterskiing or while supervising children. |
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Learn to Swim. |
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Learn CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). |
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Do not use air-filled or foam toys in place of life
jackets/personal floatation devices (PDFs).
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Fireworks Safety Tips |
| The best way to enjoy fireworks is to
visit public fireworks displays put on by professionals who know how
to safely handle fireworks. If you plan to use fireworks, make sure
they are legal in your area.
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Never light fireworks indoors or near dry grass. |
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Always have a bucket of water and/or a fire
extinguisher nearby. Know how to operate the fire extinguisher
properly. |
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Do not wear loose clothing while using fireworks. |
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Stand several feet away from lit fireworks. If a
devise does not go off, do not stand over it to investigate it. Put it
out with water and dispose of it. |
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Always read the directions and warning labels on
fireworks. If a devise is not marked with the contents, direction and
a warning label, do not light it. |
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Supervise children around fireworks at all times.
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FOR MORE
INFORMATION |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
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CDC Features |
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Stay Safe on the Water: National Safe Boating Week |
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Health and Safety Tips for Summer Camp |
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Avoiding Germs in Swimming Pools |
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Recreational Water Illness (RWIs) Prevention Week |
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CDC Podcast |
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Staying Safe in the Water |
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Healthy Water |
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Swim Healthy, Swim Safely |
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Unintentional Drowning: Fact Sheet |
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Healthy Swimming / Recreational Water Frequently Asked Questions |
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Injuries from Fireworks |
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Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide |
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Men's Health: Men's Summer Health and Safety Tips |
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Food Safety Office |
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Food-Related Diseases |
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) |
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Summer Fire Safety Tips |
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
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CPSC Stops Hazardous Products At the Docks: Preventing Fireworks
Injuries and Deaths |
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2008 Fireworks Annual Report |
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CPSC Warns: Summer Fun Brings More Emergency Room Visits |
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
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Summer Fun |
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Sun Safety:
Save Your Skin! |
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www.Foodsafety.gov |
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National Fire Protection Association |
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SOURCES |
| 1. |
U.S. Fire Administration (USFA),
Summer Fire Safety |
| 2. |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Swim Healthy, Swim
Safely |
| 3. |
Healthy Swimming / Recreational Water |
| 4. |
CDC, Injury Prevention and Control,
Home & Recreational Safety; Unintentional Drowning: Fact Sheet |
| 5. |
CDC, NCIPC, Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System
(WISQARS), WISQARS Injury Mortality Reports, 2007
(All intents, Drowning, US, 2007, All Races, Standard Output, 2000
Standard Year, Year and Race Output Groups) |
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6. |
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2008 Fireworks Annual
Report: Fireworks-Related Deaths, Emergency Department-Treated
Injuries, and Enforcement Activities During 2008, June 2009 |
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7. |
U.S. Fire Administration (USFA),
Topical Fire Research Series: The Dangers of Firework, Vol 5, Issue
4, June, 2005, p5 |
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