Be careful to avoid an ER-filled holiday

On July 4, 2009, I broke my leg. We were on our way to watch the Hope fireworks because trees block the view from my deck. We were neither in a hurry nor had we been drinking.

It was one of those “on my feet one moment and on the ground the next.” The pain was piercing, but I was convinced that I could still watch the pyrotechnics if my sister-in-law would just get the car and drive us down to the next street. Well, she drove all right, directly to Bonner General Hospital.

The emergency department was fairly busy. One patient was suffering from severe abdominal pain probably caused by food poisoning. Another, in a concentrated effort not to hurt his girlfriend took his anger out on a fence and cut his hand pretty badly.

The worst case was a young teen who neglected to drop the lit firework and suffered such bad burns on his hand, arm and torso he needed to be transported to Seattle.

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, Independence Day is one of the most deadly holidays for American drivers.

In 2009, about 410 individuals died in auto accidents with 40 percent of those accidents occurring as the result of an alcohol-impaired driver. I won’t say anything more about that.

Let me point out, however, that those accidents were probably avoidable. So were these incidents taken directly from news clippings following last year’s Independence Day.

“HOMEDALE, Idaho — Organizers of the annual July 4 demolition derby in Homedale hope an accident this past Monday won’t hinder future derbies. A car crashed through a fence during the event, requiring a woman in the audience to be carried off by paramedics.

“KENT, Wash. — Fireworks are suspected in multiple house fires, and contributed to one death and at least two serious injuries on Monday.

“The State Patrol says a 17-year-old boy who was setting off fireworks in a road was struck by a car and killed late Monday night near Sunnyside.

“In Kent, two homes were damaged by fire. The first was started when fireworks landed on the roof of a home the cause of the second is under investigation.

“RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. — A man is facing felony drunken driving charges after a passenger in his Jeep was killed in an off-road accident on Monday.

“The driver attempted to scale a dirt hill to access the highway but, the vehicle lost traction and rolled to its left and down a dirt embankment.”

No death or injury is good, but this story is horrific:

“FARGO, N.D. — Authorities are investigating after a father of two young children was decapitated in a Fourth of July fireworks accident in Fargo.

“The man let off a large firework that caused a big bang and visible shock waves in the air. He then took another firework and walked to the middle of the street to light it.

“’Within 10 seconds of us talking to him, he lit it and all we saw was a cloud of smoke, a bang,’ a neighbor said. ‘When I walked up to his body, it was nothing but his shoulders down.’”

I can’t imagine that anyone woke up this morning thinking that it would be a good day to visit the emergency department or a funeral home. So, let me just remind you to be careful. Think it out.

Be extremely cautious with fire whether it’s a barbecue, lighting fireworks or a campfire. Be vigilant with knives and other sharp objects. Make good decisions about drinking and driving. Don’t leave children unattended. Be safe and have a wonderful holiday!

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at 264-4029 or by e-mail at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.