SYRACUSE -- For most people Fourth of July weekend is about fireworks shows, parades and parties but doctors say hospital emergency rooms also draw big crowds around the holiday weekend.
"It's a busy weekend with people drinking, we see lots of alcohol related accidents, car accidents, falls, just injuries from drinking too much alcohol," said Dr. Chris Knutsen from Upstate Hospital in Syracuse. "Combine that with fireworks and that's a bad combination."
Dr. Knutsen said most people should leave fireworks to the professionals and remember small fireworks can cause major injuries.
Emergency rooms aren't the only ones who make special plans for the Fourth of July weekend. State Police will have extra patrols out looking for drunk drivers and fireworks complaints.
"It's a party weekend so people are going to be drinking alcohol and unfortunately they still get behind the wheel so we have to be aware of that on the roads and make the proper enforcement," said Sgt. Paul Kuropatwinski of the New York State Police.
A new study by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says underage alcohol related emergency room visits are 90% higher on Fourth of July weekend than on a typical July day.
Many doctors hope people think twice this weekend and avoid a trip to the ER.
"If you'll just take your time, be careful and think about what you're doing before you do it - it would help us and help you too," said Dr. Knutsen.
A study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission said 9,000 Americans went to the emergency room last year with a fireworks related injury last year and 6,000 of those visits were in the 30 days surrounding the Fourth of July.
