Four Ways You Can Avoid Urgent Care this Fourth of July

Ahhh, the Fourth of July—food, fireworks and fun. A time to celebrate the 250^th birthday of our nation’s independence with family and friends. Unfortunately, for some, the day may also include a visit to their local urgent care or emergency care center.

According to Ladan Pourmasiha, D.O., a family medicine physician with Baptist Health and medical director for its Urgent Care centers in Broward County, Independence Day brings an uptick in people seeking care for a variety of ailments.

“We see people coming in with burns, lacerations, dehydration, food poisoning—you name it, we’ve seen it,” Dr. Pourmasiha says. “Most of these can be treated on site and we’re able to get patients back to whatever they were doing. More serious cases will be transported to one of our nearby emergency departments.”

All Baptist Health hospitals in the region have emergency departments and the organization also has opened several freestanding emergency departments in recent years to help meet the needs of fast-growing communities around South Florida.

As you prepare for your Fourth of July festivities, Dr. Pourmasiha offers four important tips that can help you and your family stay healthy and safe.

1. Exercise Caution Around the Grill

Most grilling-related accidents do not result in death but rather in injuries or property damage, the National Fire Protection Association says.

Grilling-related injuries send an average of 21,682 people a year to emergency rooms. In addition, an estimated 9,300 structures are damaged every year by fire — most of these caused by gas grills.

“An exploding propane tank or a sudden flare-up on a charcoal grill can cause devastating burns,” Dr. Pourmasiha says. “Our emergency departments and urgent care centers are staffed and equipped to properly assess and treat all types of burns.”

To avoid burns, she advises following these safe grilling recommendations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):

• Use grills outside only, in well-ventilated areas and never indoors, in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch or under a surface that will burn.

• Check www.cpsc.gov to see if the grill you’re using has been recalled and follow the remedy if it has been recalled.

• Inspect your grill and any gas hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks, and replace them, if necessary. For gas grills, inspect hoses for cracks or leaks by applying a soap and water solution; bubbles indicate a leak. Ensure all connections are secure before igniting.

• Only use appropriate fire starters and only use them before lighting the fire. Never add liquid fuel after trying to start a fire.

• Maintain a safe distance and wear appropriate clothing. Loose clothing can easily catch fire when leaning over a grill. Instead, wear short sleeves or tight-fitting garments, and use flame-resistant gloves and long-handled tools to keep a safe distance from the heat.

• Never leave a hot grill unattended and keep children away from the grill area.

• Clean your grill with a ball of aluminum foil or nylon brushes; avoid wire grill brushes to prevent stray wire brush strands from ending up in the food.

• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and make sure everyone knows how to use it.

2. Practice Safe Food Handling

If you don’t want your backyard barbecue to be memorable for the wrong reasons, Dr. Pourmasiha suggests being extra careful with how you handle and cook your food.

“Symptoms of food poisoning can include diarrhea, stomach pain/cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, and can arise anywhere from within an hour or two to a couple of days,” she says.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) advises keeping raw meats refrigerated until ready to cook and using separate utensils and plates for raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination. Using a meat thermometer will ensure your food reaches a safe internal temperature: 165°F for poultry, 160°F for ground meat and 145°F for beef, pork, lamb or veal steaks, chops and roasts.

Also, don’t leave perishable food out for more than two hours, or more than one hour if the outdoor temperature is 90°F or above—a frequent occurrence in South Florida. This includes salads with mayo, cut fruit, cooked meats, dairy dishes and leftovers. The FDA points out that bacteria grow faster between 40°F and 140°F, especially in warm weather.

3. Be Extra Careful with Fireworks

The Fourth wouldn’t be the Fourth without fireworks but never lose sight of the fact that these are explosives that can cause serious injury, Dr. Pourmasiha says.

“Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks,” she advises. “That includes sparklers, which burn at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees and can cause serious injuries.”

In addition to exercising caution with sparklers, Dr. Pourmasiha recommends following Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommendations for safely handling fireworks this Fourth of July or any time of year:

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.

• Light fireworks one at a time, then move away from the fireworks device quickly.

• Never try to relight or handle “duds” (malfunctioning fireworks) – soak them with water and throw them away.

• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.

• Move to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.

• Never point or throw fireworks (including sparklers) at anyone.

• After fireworks complete their burning, to prevent a trash fire, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before disposing of it.

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use.

• Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

4. Stay Hydrated

This time of year in South Florida, it’s especially easy to become dehydrated — and you may not even realize it. Dr. Pourmasiha suggests being proactive with your fluid intake.

“By the time you start to feel thirsty, your body is already feeling the effects of dehydration at the cellular level,” she says. “If you’re working or playing or exercising outdoors in this high heat and humidity, make sure you’re getting adequate fluids before, during and after.”

Is there a preferred beverage for avoiding dehydration?

“Water works best — it’s what nature put here for us,” Dr. Pourmasiha says. “You want to avoid any sugary, caffeinated or alcoholic drinks if you’re going to be outside for long periods of time. They can actually be dehydrating.”

There’s a Baptist Health Location Near You

If you find yourself in need of medical care this holiday weekend, Dr. Pourmasiha assures that Baptist Health is here for you.

“Our highly trained urgent care physicians, nurses and staff are ready to treat minor illnesses and injuries, while our emergency departments remain open 24/7 to provide advanced, lifesaving care for more serious or life-threatening conditions,” she says.

Click here to find a Baptist Health Urgent Care or Emergency Care location near you.