It's summertime and that means fireworks. For the Auburn Regional Medical Center (ARMC) Emergency Department, fireworks mean treating burn injuries.

"Respect fire and respect fireworks. Bottom line, they are explosives," says Rob Bessler, MD, an ARMC board certified emergency physician.

If a burn injury blisters or involves the hands or face, you should seek emergency care, says Richard McMonigal, MD, also a board certified emergency physician at ARMC.

"Serious burns can lead to infection or decreased mobility, so it's best to have the injury checked out," says Dr. McMonigal.

Both ER physicians advise those who enjoy fireworks to watch them at a professionally staged event. If you insist on using fireworks, they offer this advice:

• Don't use fireworks if you're drinking alcohol. "Alcohol and fireworks are a bad combination that leads to poor judgment," says Dr. Bessler. "Unfortunately, we see the results of that lethal twosome far too often in the Emergency Department."
• Make sure you have adequate adult supervision.
• Read the directions beforehand. "Patients who have been burned by fireworks tell me they didn't know when it was going off because they didn't read the directions," says Dr. Bessler.
• Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes.
• Make sure fireworks are placed on the ground before you light them. "Throwing anything that is lit is a bad idea," says Dr. McMonigal.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Have a bucket of water handy to drench smoldering fireworks.
• Create a "safe zone" with no people in the immediate area where fireworks are used.

For more information, visit www.auburnregional.com and click on Health Information on the left side of the page. When the next page comes up, click on Health Emergencies under the section called Look It Up. Then click on Burns.

First Aid for Burns: Apply Wet Cloth, Not Ice
When you have a burn, Rob Bessler, MD, an emergency physician at ARMC, has this advice: Do not apply ice!

"There is a misconception that icing a burn is good, but it actually decreases blood flow to the area, which prevents healing," says Dr. Bessler. "Instead, apply a wet cloth to the burn area."

If the burn blisters or involves the face or hands, seek immediate treatment, says Dr. Bessler.

More Space for ARMC's Emergency Department
If you need emergency treatment for a cut or burn or other injury, Auburn Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department is ready. ARMC's Emergency Department recently doubled in size and is equipped with 21 individual patient rooms to meet community needs. It is a Level III Trauma Center.

"Our ER staff is committed to patient satisfaction and we pride ourselves on excellent care and a comfortable environment," says Rob Bessler, MD.

202 North Division St., Auburn, WA 98001 (253) 833-7711, FAX: (253) 939-2376