South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Our Boca Raton Injury Lawyers wish you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend. Please celebrate responsibly, leave the fireworks to the professionals and don't drink and drive.

As the South Florida drought continues, it's possible that fireworks throughout Palm Beach County could be cancelled for Fourth of July weekend, the Palm Beach Post reports, but that doesn't mean people should rush out to light their own fireworks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2008, 7,000 people were injured and seven people died because of fireworks injuries. Children made up nearly half of those injured. Boca Raton child injuries can be scary and dangerous, so please use caution.

The annual fireworks show at the Sunset cove Amphitheater is being threatened by dry conditions throughout the county. According to the Post, the drought index is 550 and the county and other South Florida counties are already under a burn ban. Gov. Rick Scott has put a temporary ban on campfires and put the state under a state of emergency. Fire officials are working to figure out if it's possible to continue with the show despite the conditions.

While fireworks displays can be fun to watch, they should be left to the professionals. And even still, falling debris in fireworks shows can be a hazard. Accidents are perhaps more likely in your backyard. Sparklers burn at more than 1,000 degrees and can catch a person's clothes on fire. Eyes, hands and fingers are the most commonly injured due to fireworks.

Along with staying safe with fireworks, one should be careful on the roads. AAA estimates that nearly 39 million people will be on the roads this Fourth of July weekend, USA Today reports. That leaves open the possibility of car accidents in Boca Raton and throughout South Florida. And these accidents are most likely to be caused by distracted driving, drunk driving and speeding. Driving at night or in bad weather conditions also increase the risk, so be a defensive driver and look out for others who aren't.

Other Fourth of July Safety Topics:

Boca Raton Boating Safety: Florida is the boating capital of the United States with more registered boats than anywhere else. So, please be safe on the water, don't drink and boat and watch out for aggressive boaters.

South Florida swimming pool safety: In 2008, 479 people drowned in Florida and many of them were children. These are preventable deaths as simple supervision can save a life. Looking away or being distracted at a pool for just a few moments can cause tragedy.

Bicycle safety: As the weather gets warmer outside, many Floridians will take to the roads on their bicycles during the holiday weekend. Florida is the deadliest state in the nation for bicycle accidents. These accidents are typically the work of careless drivers, so pay special attention when riding to try to avoid these life-altering incidents.