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Every year, thousands of people are admitted into emergency departments across the country because of injuries caused by fireworks.

"We'll see injuries to fingers or the whole hand. Another common injury is burns. And sometimes we'll see eye injuries because of the sparks that fly into the eye," says Dr. Neha Raukar, a Mayo Clinic emergency medicine physician.

If consumer fireworks are legal where you live, here are a few tips from the National Safety Council:

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks.
• Always have adult supervision.
• Wear protective eyewear.
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands.
• Don't point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Only light one firework at a time.
• Watch them from a safe distance.

"If you're going to have some fireworks, don't be drinking at the same time. Have the person who is not drinking be the one to light the fireworks. Stay away from them once you light them, and just be aware of your surroundings," says Dr. Raukar. "I don't want to meet you here in the emergency department."

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Fireworks safety tips appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

THIS WEEK'S TOP TOPICS
Sunburn: First aid 
Did you know that you can get sunburned on cloudy days — not just when it's sunny? And, once sunburn occurs, you can't do much to limit damage to your skin. You may be able to reduce your pain and discomfort, though, with these self-care tips. And you need to know when to seek medical care. Learn more about first aid for sunburn.

Don't bring food poisoning to your cookout
You've got charcoal for the grill and condiments for the burgers, but there are a few other preparations you need to consider before your cookout. At what temperature should you cook meat? And how do you defrost foods safely? Food poisoning is caused by eating contaminated food. Contamination can occur if food is handled or cooked incorrectly. Here's how to make sure your cookout is safe and healthy.

EXPERT ANSWERS
What is chikungunya fever, and should I be worried?
Chikungunya (chik-un-GUN-yuh) is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes. It causes the sudden onset of fever and severe joint pain. Other signs and symptoms may include fatigue, muscle pain, headache and rash.  No vaccine exists to prevent chikungunya fever, and there's no effective antiviral treatment. Learn more from Dr. Scott Litin, a Mayo Clinic internal medicine specialist.

Which is better for weight loss — cutting calories or increasing exercise?
The key to weight loss is to consume fewer calories than you burn. For most people, it's possible to lower calorie intake to a greater degree than it is to burn more calories through increased exercise. But exercise also is important because it can help you maintain your weight loss. Learn more from Dr. Donald Hensrud, a Mayo Clinic preventive medicine specialist and director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Video: 'Hamstring Curl With Resistance Tubing'
Delirium
Lifestyle strategies for pain management

HEALTHY RECIPES
Apple-fennel slaw
Spiced melon salad
Smoked Gouda poblano turkey burger
Tasty apple pie

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Don't let your tots burn
When you head outside for family fun, be sure to protect small children from burns. Keep sunblock handy and reapply often. Keep little ones away from grills, fire pits and campfires. Don't let children play with or near fireworks or sparklers. Check children's car seats for hot straps or buckles. These can heat up quickly in a car parked in direct sunlight.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org. 

Receive a free e-subscription to Housecall and other health newsletters.

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Dazzling fireworks can add to a Fourth of July celebration, but they also come with risks. It is important that fireworks be used safely and responsibly to avoid injuries. Thousands of people are injured each year when using fireworks, according to the National Fireworks Safety Council.

"Spectacular fireworks displays can be viewed in many communities," says Dr. Alexander Stricker III, a Mayo Clinic Healthy System emergency medicine physician. "Attending one of those events is the safest way to enjoy a dazzling display."

If you choose to include fireworks in your celebration, follow these safety tips:

• Purchase fireworks from a licensed store. Only use fireworks if fireworks are legal where you'll be celebrating.
• Legal fireworks are packaged in bright colors and have safety warnings printed on the packages. Be sure to read all of the safety information and instructions for proper use.
• Keep small children away from fireworks.
• Only use fireworks in an open area that is far away from animals, buildings, storage tanks, brush or any combustible materials.
• Light one device at a time. Never attempt to relight a device that doesn't ignite the first time.
• Have a bucket of water nearby to cool used sparkler wires and extinguish other fireworks.
• Never allow anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs to use fireworks.

Prioritizing safety will ensure a more enjoyable time for all.

The post Have a fun July Fourth with fireworks, but prioritize safety appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Summer is in full swing and many stores have displays to sell Fourth of July fireworks for home use.  However, thousands of accidents each year prove that these fireworks are dangerous. In 2014, 11 people died and an estimated 10,500 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the U.S. These preventable injuries can happen to anybody.

To reduce preventable injuries, Mayo Clinic Health System optometrists and ophthalmologists are encouraging families to attend their local fireworks displays as a safe alternative to purchasing fireworks for home use. This recommendation is made as part of Fireworks Eye Safety Month, which is sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

“Nobody is immune to injuries when playing with fireworks,” says Dr. Misty Watters, a Mayo Clinic Health System optometrist. “Although you may think it can’t happen to you, it definitely can. Injury to the head, hands and eyes are all very possible when it comes to playing with fireworks.”

Dr. Watters explains that eye wounds account for 19 percent of firework-related injuries. The components that go into making fireworks — gunpowder, sulfur and charcoal — can damage one’s vision — sometimes irreversibly.

In the event of an eye injury, it is best to seek medical help right away and do the following:

• Don’t rub.
  Rubbing your eye may increase bleeding or worsen injury.
• Don’t rinse.
  Attempting to rinse out your eyes can lead to further damage.
• Don’t apply pressure.
  Applying pressure can add more bacteria irritants to the injury.

Although illegal fireworks, bottle rockets and Roman candles account for most injuries, seemingly harmless sparklers also cause numerous injuries each year. Because these sparklers can be found at just about every Fourth of July celebration, they account for the most injuries to children under 5.

“If you’re celebrating with fireworks at home, there are precautions you can take to avoid injury, such as keeping children a safe distance away, wearing eye protection while handling fireworks and not approaching a burning firework until you are certain that it is out,” says Dr. Watters. “But the safest alternative would be to go to your local fireworks show. Being careful and putting one’s safety first is important in any situation. Please celebrate safely this year.”

Watch this Mayo Clinic Minute: Fireworks safety tips.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (:59) is in the downloads.

The post Don’t take fireworks safety for granted appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads. Read the script.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Keep your eyes on fireworks safety appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

In an effort to reduce these preventable injuries, Mayo Clinic Health System optometrists and ophthalmologists encourage families to attend their local fireworks displays instead of using fireworks at home. This recommendation is made as part of Fireworks Eye Safety Month, sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

“When playing with fireworks, injuries to the head, eyes and hands are all very possible,” says Doug Wesely, O.D., optometrist at Mayo Clinic Health System. “And not only are you at risk of harming yourself, you’re at risk of harming others.”

Fireworks can be especially damaging to your eyes. According to Dr. Wesely, the makeup of a firework — gunpowder, sulfur and charcoal — is significantly irritating to the eyes. He says 19 percent of fireworks-related injuries affect the eyes.

In the unfortunate event you end up with an eye injury during your Fourth of July fireworks show, Dr. Wesely offers these tips:

• Don’t rub. Rubbing your eye may increase bleeding or worsen injury.
• Don’t rinse. Attempting to rinse out your eyes can be even more damaging than rubbing.
• Don’t apply pressure. Keep your hands away from your eyes — you could add more bacteria and irritants by touching your eyes.
• Don’t stop for over-the-counter medication. Instead, head straight to the emergency department.

Although illegal fireworks, bottle rockets and Roman candles account for the majority of injuries, seemingly harmless sparklers also cause numerous injuries each year. Because these sparklers can be found at just about every Fourth of July celebration, they account for the most injuries to children under the age of five.

“This Fourth of July, leave the fireworks to the professionals,” says Dr. Wesely. “Get your family and friends together and attend your local fireworks display. They’ll be bigger, better and, most importantly, safer for you and your family.”

The post This Fourth of July, Leave Fireworks to Professionals appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Here's the podcast: MayoClinicRadio 06-27-15 PODCAST

The post Brain Tumors/Rotator Cuff Injury/Fireworks Safety: Mayo Clinic Radio appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

• Consume alcohol in moderation. Imbibing too much alcohol can lead to questionable decision-making, slowed reflexes and false confidence – traits that are dangerous in nearly any outdoor activity during the summer months.
• Never assume a campfire or bonfire is completely out. On more than one occasion, fire-happy campers have been known to dump gasoline or other extremely flammable liquids on fires that look like they are out or smoldering and ended up with third-degree burns. Children and adults make trips to the emergency room every summer after stepping into fire pits they thought were cool.
• Always wear a helmet when biking, motorcycling, horseback riding or on an ATV. This is like wearing a seat belt in a car – an absolute must. Riders of all kinds can sustain serious injuries in an accident, but survival chances grow exponentially when a helmet is worn.
• Be extra alert when operating a boat or personal watercraft.  Watch out for other boaters, water-skiers and swimmers. Every year, patients are brought to the emergency department after getting tangled up in a boat propeller. And always wear a life jacket.
• Avoid fireworks. Even sparklers – thought to be relatively safe – can lead to blindness and serious burns. Other larger fireworks can leave users without fingers and even limbs. Hearing loss is common among fireworks users as well. Children must be closely supervised at all times around any kind of fireworks.

Journalists: The 'Saving Lives With Gus' video and sound bites with Dr. Jenkins are available in the downloads.

SAVING LIVES WITH GUS: Fireworks Safety

INTERVIEW SOUND BITES WITH DR. JENKINS
Mayo Clinic trauma specialist Dr. Donald Jenkins says, as you might expect, staying safe comes down to planning ahead and using common sense.

While a backyard fireworks display may seem fun, Mayo Clinic physicians are advising everyone to leave them to the professionals. Each year, Mayo Clinic doctors see dozens of patients with severe injuries as a direct result of using fireworks, including severe burns and hearing loss.  Dr. Jenkins says it's common for him to treat hand and facial injuries this time of year.

/// Sound Bite  SUMMER SAFETY FIREWORKS INJURIES (Dr. Donald Jenkins, Mayo Clinic Trauma Expert) "It’s because they’re getting up close to the firework or they’re lighting the firework and the fuse is too short or they hold onto it for too long a period of time.  And it explodes in their hand. It can cause facial burns, eye injuries and amputation of fingers or the hand."  TRT :19

Dr. Jenkins says fire pits and campfires also send a lot of people to the hospital in the summertime. Even when the campfire burns down to ashes, treat it with caution.

The post Keep Your Summer Safe and Injury Free + SAVING LIVES WITH GUS: Fireworks Safety appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 23,000 new cases of brain cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. last year. Of those, about one-third were gliomas ... a type of brain cancer that's particularly hard to treat. On this week's program, Dr. Robert Jenkins, a pathologist and specialist in laboratory genetics, explains new research that may lead to more effective treatments for gliomas. And scientist Dr. Richard Vile describes how a teenage girl with brain cancer changed the focus of his research. Also on the program, orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Sperling talks about rotator cuff injury ... what it is and how it's repaired. And, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that about 240 people go to the emergency room each day during the weeks around the Fourth of July with fireworks-related injuries. Surgeon and trauma specialist Dr. Donald Jenkins discusses the hazards of using fireworks at home.

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: Research shows that of the different types of gliomas, all are genetically the same.

Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio.

Click here to listen to the program on Saturday, June 27, at 9:05 a.m., and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

To find and listen to archived shows, click here.

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic. The show is taped for rebroadcast by some affiliates.

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Myth or Matter-of-Fact: Research shows that of the different types of gliomas, all are genetically the same.

Miss the program?  Here's the podcast:MayoClinicRadio 06-27-15 PODCAST

Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

To find and listen to archived shows, click here.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Brain Tumors/Rotator Cuff Injury/Fireworks Safety appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.