Something about fireworks in the summertime brings a community together. Every year thousands of people light up their own yards and streets with fireworks. In Mississippi, the stands are on every corner in the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July. We want your family to remember summer fireworks as a fun time, not that time dad or sister had to go to the ER. So before you light the fuse on your first Roman candle take a look at these fireworks safety standards.

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks
• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
• Pay attention to others lighting fireworks and steer clear of them
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
• Never light them indoors
• Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person even as a joke
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket, the friction could set them off
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a glass or metal container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
• Never use illegal fireworks (legal fireworks have the manufacturer’s name and direction on them; illegal fireworks do not)
• Never try to make your own fireworks
• Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk they will run away or injure themselves trying to escape the noise
• Keep 500 feet from the launching pad
• Don’t pick up the debris immediately after shooting fireworks. The debris may still be hot or may reignite or explode at any time.
• Teach your children to stop, drop, and roll if they are hit by a firework and their clothing catches fire.

In case of injuries

For eye injuries:

• Don’t rub or touch the eye
• Don’t try to wash the eye or apply ointment
• Seek medical attentional immediately

For burns:

• Carefully clip any clothing away from the burn.
• Make sure the burn is clean and dry.
• If the burn is larger than the palm of your hand or affects the face, ears, toes or fingers, seek medical attention. 
• Apply cool water but avoid soaking the burn in ice. 
• Over-the-counter pain medications can be used to treat pain from the burn. 
• Small burns can be treated at home with antibiotic ointment or aloe. 
• Seek medical attention if the burns don’t heal.

The sun’s shining and businesses are starting to reopen. While we’re relieved our numbers of COVID19 patients hasn’t overwhelmed our hospitals and medical system, we continue to be concerned about the threat of the virus. The majority of the most serious cases have happened in older adults with pre-existing conditions. This means keeping ourselves healthy has never been more important.

The best way to protect ourselves from any germs is to wash your hands using soap and water for twenty minutes and stay away from people who are sick. We can also protect others by wearing a mask when we go in public in case we’re the ones who are sick and don’t know it.

In addition to those important steps, we can boost our immune system with some pretty basic steps.

Eat Well

Our immune system comes from our gut. So, it is especially important during these times of reopening our world that we incorporate foods that boost our immune system. These foods and vitamins include:

1. Protein – this helps with healing and recovery so make sure each meal or snack has a good source such as lean meats, eggs, seafood, poultry, nuts, seeds, soy products, etc
2. Vitamin A – prevents infection. Foods that contain Vit A are sweet potatoes, broccoli, and carrots.
3. Vitamin C – fruits like oranges, red bell pepper, etc contain vitamin c which helps build up the immune system.
4. Vitamin E – foods such as cereal, almonds, and peanut butter contain this vitamin and is good to help with building immunity
5. Zinc – helps with would healing. Foods such as milk, lean meats, and whole grains contain zinc.
6. Other vitamins to help with immunity are B6, B12, Copper, Folate, Selinium, and Iron. These come in a variety of different foods. This is why it is so important to strive for a balanced plate of whole grain, vegetables, and lean proteins with each meal and snack. 

Sleep Soundly

A National Institutes of Health study shows adults who sleep fewer than 6 hours every night are more prone to illness. Adults should get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Teens need 8-10 hours of sleep and children up to 14 hours of sleep. So these long days with no school where your teen sleeps in until almost noon may be helping him stay healthy.

Some environmental factors which we can control that affect sleep include:

1. Alcohol (which may help you fall asleep initially but is more likely to disrupt your sleep later and keep you from getting in the hours you need)
2. Heavy meals
3. Nicotine
4. Caffeine
5. Blue lights from electronics

We can’t control all the factors that lead to a poor night’s sleep. Stress, tension, anxiety, and depression can all interrupt our sleep. And we can agree there’s plenty of all those emotions to go around right now. If you’re struggling with these issues talk to a counselor. Finding strategies to cope with stress and depression will not only help you sleep more soundly but it can boost your immune system as well.

Some illnesses such as acid reflux or allergies and sinus problems may also inhibit sound sleep. You’ll want to talk to your medical provider about treatment not only for your sleep but for your long term health.

Water it down

Water is important to our overall health which is important for our immune system. See how that works? We all need to drink enough to make our urine pale yellow. Let your body be your guide. When you’re thirsty drink until you aren’t thirsty anymore. 

Exercise, especially outside in warm weather, will use up our water stores more quickly. Keeping a bottle of water on hand during and after exercise is an important part of staying hydrated.

The internet has plenty of suggestions on how much water you need to drink every day. As long as you are staying hydrated–the pale yellow urine will let you know if you are–you’re doing great. 

Move it, Move it

Our body systems weren’t built to be sedentary. We’re made to work and exercise regularly. Especially for those of us who are used to working hard but have been laid off this sudden shift can be hard on our bodies. Plan some time to exercise. Walk around the neighborhood. Hike where you can observe social distancing rules. Ride your bike. Plant a garden. We can do a lot without fancy gym equipment.

Many exercise gurus and gyms are offering virtual workouts. Find one and join in. 

In addition to making our bodies healthier, exercise can help alleviate stress.

We can’t offer a fool-proof way to protect yourselves against the Coronavirus. If we could we’d all be back at work with no concerns by now. We can help you create a healthier body so you can fight back against all types of illnesses including the current COVID-19 crisis.