Fireworks, freedom and fire safety

As we enter July, many of us look forward to celebrating our country’s independence with family, food, and fireworks. For my family, watching fireworks has always been a favorite tradition. Some of my earliest memories are of lying on a blanket under the stars, watching colorful bursts light up the warm July sky. There’s something magical about it.

Each year, we attend a fireworks show hosted by friends just down the road. They plan their display months in advance, and every year it’s more spectacular than the last. But a couple of years ago, that tradition took a frightening turn.

On the morning of the show, our friends went out to prepare the fireworks setup. In a split second, something went terribly wrong. The fireworks ignited prematurely, causing an explosion that set their storage building on fire. The blast was so loud, it was heard miles away. Our friends suffered burns—but thankfully, they escaped with only minor injuries. It could have been so much worse.

Unfortunately, incidents like this are far from rare. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2023 alone, emergency departments treated an estimated 9,700 fireworks-related injuries, and 8 people lost their lives¹. Fireworks were also linked to more than 31,000 fires in 2022, resulting in $109 million in property damage².

Where there’s fire, there’s a high risk of burns—and sometimes, smoke inhalation. Inhalation injury can cause severe damage to the lungs by disrupting the airway lining, impairing mucociliary function, and triggering inflammation. These injuries can lead to complications like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening condition.

One of the evidence-based treatments for ARDS is prone therapy to improve oxygenation. The landmark Proseva Trial demonstrated that early use of prone positioning significantly reduces mortality in ARDS patients³.

At Turn Medical, we’re committed to supporting clinicians with innovative tools like the Pronova-O₂™ Automated Prone Therapy System, which enables safe, consistent, and efficient proning for patients in pulmonary distress.

As we celebrate this July 4th, let’s also remember the importance of safety and preparation. If your facility is caring for patients with smoke-related lung injuries or any kind of severe respiratory illness, reach out to us to learn how the Pronova-O₂™ can help your staff.

Contact us at online or 855-ASK-TURN to learn more.