As the weather heats up and families migrate outdoors, winter toys are traded in for sunscreen and sand pails. The summer months promise warm days and one of the most anticipated nights of the year: the Fourth of July. 

While fireworks are beautiful to watch, they are dangerous to play with. If not handled properly, fireworks can cause severe injuries to eyes and skin. Even just watching a friend light fireworks can put you at risk.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 9,000 fireworks-related injuries happen each year. Of these, nearly half are head-related injuries. Nearly 30 percent of these are injuries to the eyes, one-quarter of which result in permanent vision loss or blindness. Children under the age of 15 account for half of all fireworks eye injuries in the United States. 

If you or a friend chooses to handle fireworks, The National Council on Firework Safety offers these tips:

• Use fireworks outdoors only.
• If fireworks aren't legal where you live, don’t use them.
• Always have water handy (hose or bucket).
• Only use fireworks as intended. Don't try to alter or combine them.
• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.
• Alcohol and fireworks don’t mix. Have a “designated shooter.”
• Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
• Don’t ever use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives: They can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community. 

To learn more about fireworks safety, visit the free, online health library on the Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake website at DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/FireworksSafety.

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

Sodas have been in the news a lot lately. The New York Supreme Court recently overturned a plan in New York City to prevent the sale of sugary drinks in cups larger than 16 ounces. A report published by the Institute of Medicine linked the rising consumption of sodas as being a major contributor to the obesity epidemic. And now, the latest bad news about sugary drinks comes from Imperial College London, which collected data on 350,000 people in eight European countries. Results from that study showed that individuals who drink one serving of sugary soda (12 fluid ounces) a day have a 22 percent higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those who have one serving or less per month.

So what’s a soda-lover to do to help lower their risk of diabetes? You can start by swapping that sugary drink for a cup of coffee. People who drink more coffee have a lower chance of developing type 2 diabetes. If you don’t like coffee, try black tea instead. The results from a recent study suggest that this beverage also may help prevent diabetes.

Other potential ways to lower the chances of developing diabetes include packing your plate with healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy. It’s also important to watch portion sizes, take your time eating, and not skip breakfast. And last but not least, be sure to fill each day with plenty of movement and try to exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.

To learn more about diabetes, take the free, online What Do You Really Know About Diabetes? quiz available on the Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake website at DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/DiabetesQuiz. For a free referral to an endocrinologist, call 800-887-2525.

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com