On Friday, America celebrates its 249th birthday; the key word, ‘celebrate.’ And while some national birthdays are toasted in amazing ways, America just nods and says, ‘Hold my beer!’
Next Friday, according to the website WalletHub.com, Americans will spend an estimated $1.6 billion dollars on beer, making it the summer’s single biggest beer consumption day.
But celebration is a coin with two sides. As much as the holiday prompts people to boat, barbecue, hit the road or the water, the Fourth also has a serious downside.
According to the CDC and a raft of insurers, including Insuranceopedia, the Fourth of July is the most dangerous day of the year. It leads all other days of the year in roadway fatalities, accidental fires—many caused by careless barbecuing—emergency room visits from fireworks accidents and, perhaps not surprisingly, mass shootings, incidents involving four or more victims.
This Friday, it is estimated that more than 45,000 people will visit an emergency room. According to the U.S. Consumer Safety Production Commission, most will be there from fireworks-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Three fourths of the injuries will involve eyes, face, ears and hands. There will also be fatalities.
Pueblo Fire Chief Barb Huber says her department will be ready for the holiday. “We’re preparing the same way we always do,” she said. By that, Huber means the department will have an extra brush truck assigned for firework-related fires that her department will almost certainly get called for. With two of the state’s biggest rivers crossing Pueblo, the Arkansas and the Fountain, swift water teams will be available. “Everyone,” Huber said, “is trained on swift water rescues.”
Because Pueblo County covers more than 150 square miles, the Pueblo Rural Fire District, said Captain Grant Genova, will boost personnel. “We usually bring in a few extra crews just to be ready for the extra activity,” he said. Fireworks or simple carelessness make brush fires one of the holiday’s biggest challenges. “Incidents of that kind tend to jump up a few days prior.” Because of the history of Fourth of July calls, Genova said all of county’s fire stations are “manned with advanced life support personnel.” Also, for extreme situations, the department works with Flight for Life and University of Colorado air service.
While fireworks have been traditional methods for celebrating the Fourth, much of the state has banned the most dangerous fireworks. But getting the most lethal pyrotechnics is as simple as crossing the Colorado-Wyoming border. Less than half a mile into Wyoming, vendors selling the most exotic combustibles on the market set up shop for anyone of legal age to spend as much as they’d like.
While the Fourth of July will experience drowning deaths, the entire month, says the CDC, is the nation’s deadliest month for drownings. Of the 4,300 unintentional drowning deaths annually, more than 750 will occur this month. Nearly three fourths of the drowning deaths will be boys and men. Also, not all will occur in lakes and rivers, said the health agency. Many will occur in family or apartment pools.
The Fourth of July has also become America’s deadliest day on the nation’s roadways. It is estimated that more than 1,400 people will lose their lives in traffic accidents, many as the result of drunk drivers.
While the Fourth is a national celebration—at least for humans—-it is anything but for dogs and cats. Pet owners dread the explosions that traumatize pets and, said Cody Costro of the Pikes Peak Humane Society.
“I don’t know the science,” said Costro, but it (the explosions) is an annual challenge. To protect your pets, he said, keep them inside. Thunder jackets, he said, are also an option. It also helps if “you stay calm.” Pets understand an owner’s reassurance.
One thing Costro does recommend is ‘chipping’ your pets. If they run away, he said, the microchip can help identify the owners and make for a happy reunion. Also, make sure your pet has a collar with information on how to get in contact with you. “Losing a pet is a scary feeling,” he said. “You never know where they are…we want to reunite you with them.”
