Drowning, Extreme Heat Deaths, Barbecue Burns
and Firework Injuries are Increasing, According to ValuePenguin.com
Research
NEW
YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the
July Fourth holiday weekend approaching, millions of Americans plan
to barbecue, swim and set off fireworks to ring in America's
independence, but are they celebrating safely? New research from
ValuePenguin shows that holiday-related injuries are on the
rise.
- Heat-related deaths increased by 56% between 2018 and
2021. Americans aged 85 and older and babies are the most
at-risk age groups for heat injury and death.
- Firework injuries increased by 32% from 2012-2021. Teens
aged 15 to 19 had the highest percentage of firework injuries
(12.4%) in 2021. Despite this, 82% of parents with children younger
than 18 say they think it's OK for kids to play with fireworks.
- Grill injuries requiring an emergency room visit rose by 18%
from 2012-2021. Children younger than 10 accounted for 21% of
emergency room visits for grill injuries in the 10 years examined —
the highest percentage among age groups.
- A lack of pool safety awareness puts Americans at greater
risk of drowning. 39% say they wouldn't be comfortable saving
someone struggling in the water, and 17% of Americans say they
don't know how to swim.
For Americans planning to host a July Fourth party, celebratory
injuries shouldn't be their only worry. ValuePenguin Insurance
spokesperson, Divya Sangameshwar, encourages party hosts to include
an insurance review and safety checklist as part of their planning.
"Taking safety precautions is important because you may be on the
hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars if you are a negligent
host. Your home or renters insurance will offer some liability
protection if an injured guest decides to sue, but it might not be
enough." Sangameshwar says as a rule of thumb, if your net worth
exceeds the level of liability coverage offered, you need to get
more liability coverage or an umbrella policy to protect
yourself.
Consumer Tips For A Safe July Fourth:
- Stay hydrated and avoid binge drinking to prevent serious heat
injury. Recognize the signs of heat injury and seek prompt medical
help.
- Be careful when handling a hot grill. Do not allow children or
pets near the grill.
- Don't allow anyone in a pool unsupervised. Ensure pool areas
are kept dry and clean to prevent slip and fall injuries.
- Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Even "safe" at-home
fireworks like sparklers get as hot as 2000 F and can cause serious
burns.
- Serve alcohol responsibly and call for rides for guests who
overindulged. If a guest drives home drunk and gets into an
accident, you could be liable.
ValuePenguin July Fourth Safety Studies:
HEAT INJURIES & DEATHS:
https://www.valuepenguin.com/heat-related-deaths-study
FIREWORK INJURIES:
https://www.valuepenguin.com/fireworks-injuries-study
GRILLING INJURIES:
https://www.valuepenguin.com/grilling-injuries-study
POOL SAFETY:
https://www.valuepenguin.com/swimming-safety-survey
About ValuePenguin.com: ValuePenguin.com, part of
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE), is a personal finance website that
conducts in-depth research and provides objective analysis to help
guide consumers to the best financial decisions. ValuePenguin
focuses on value, assessing whether the return of a particular
decision is worth the cost or risk of that option, and how this
stacks up with the other possible choices they may have. For more
information, please visit www.valuepenguin.com.
Media Contact:
media@valuepenguin.com
646-693-8445
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SOURCE ValuePenguin.com