Celebrate the Fourth of July safely with Patient First

The Fourth of July means spending time outdoors at cookouts, parades, and fireworks shows, which means fun for everyone; however, Patient First physicians would like to remind you to take a few precautions that can help you celebrate the holiday safely.

Protect your skin from the sun

Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays using these tips:

• Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF, even when it is cloudy. Reapply at least every two hours.
• Avoid uninterrupted sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. whenever possible.
• Cover up when you can with long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Hats are fine, but remember baseball caps will not protect your ears and neck from the sun.

Fireworks safety tips

Fireworks are spectacular; however, they can cause serious injuries. Here are five tips from the National Safety Council to help protect yourself.

• Sparklers cause most fireworks injuries. They burn at high temperatures and can cause severe burns. Do not let small children handle sparklers, and dispose of burned-out sparklers in a bucket of water.
• Stay away from ground-based “sparkler” devices. If one does not go off as expected, douse the device with water before approaching.
• Distance is important at public fireworks displays. Do not get too close to the launch site in case something goes wrong.
• Do not pick up fireworks debris at these displays.
• Just like drinking and driving, fireworks and alcohol do not mix.

Patient First holiday hours

All Patient First Medical Centers are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on the Fourth of July, and every day of the year. Patient First physicians are available to discuss these and other safety and injury prevention tips. Please contact Victoria Soriano at (571) 340-1594 or email Victoria.Soriano@patientfirst.com for in-person or virtual Zoom interviews.