July 4 is a family holiday, full of tradition, celebration, and simple fun in the sun, celebrated across our great nation by so many. However, along with fun, this particular holiday holds some significant dangers for children, especially children living with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder).

Impulsivity, which is part of being a child, is increased in children and adults living with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and is a concern for higher risk of injury. Impulsivity means the inability to slow down and fully contemplate the consequences of one’s actions before acting on our impulse.

ADD and ADHD people tend to find themselves caught up in the moment and will often do or say things out of character when impulsivity takes over which increases the risk of self-injury.

Let me ask a few questions, and please be honest as no one but you will know your answer. Do you allow children under the age of 12 to play around the oven when you bake a cake at 300 to 350 degrees? Of course not. I am happy you are conscious about fire safety and preventing burns to children.

Next, how many people burn candles in their homes, or use the insect repellant torches or citronella candles around the patio or pool in the summertime?
Do you clearly point out where these items are and remind children to stay far away? All right it is good to hear you do not allow children to play with fire, which is very safety conscience.

Now will you hand your child a colorful sparkler during the July 4 weekend? Sparklers burn on average of 1800 degrees and higher, and contain gunpowder. Essentially, fireworks are explosives! The gunpowder makes them completely unpredictable and especially dangerous when used by inexperienced children, impulsive teens, and intoxicated adults.

Children are burned several ways with sparklers, inadvertently when one child bumps into another child with his or her sparkler, also injuries can include burns to the hands and feet and the face or eyes as the sparks pop off the stick. Children are also burned when clothes are ignited. Nylon and spandex found in swimming suits embeds into the surrounding skin, it melts when it gets too hot. Another concern is brush or grass fires starting as the hot sparks bounce to the ground.

In 2007, an estimated 9,800 people were in a hospital emergency room directly related to injuries from the use of fireworks according to the Nation Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In addition, more than half of the injuries in 2007 (56% according to the NFPA) involved arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet and toes, while the rest of the injuries reported by emergency rooms across the nation (36% according to the NFPA) involved the head, which protects your brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

It is hard to believe that a sparkler is 2200 degrees hotter than an oven baking a cake, and that parents who are vigilant in keeping their children away from hot ovens, burning candles, and even fireplaces, will quickly hand that same child a sparkler to play during the July 4 celebration. Parents have the responsibility to protect children from gross obvious dangers to a child’s health and wellbeing. That means teaching children not to play with fire, and not only when it is convenient but when necessary.

Do not allow your child to do something simply because other children are allowed to do it and because you do not want to deal with the hassle of telling your child no. In the end only you can decide if the risk of burns, loss of limb, constant physical pain, burn treatments, permanent scarring, and death is an acceptable risk for your child. In the end, is an hour or two of fun really worth a lifetime of pain?