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Memorial Day: Cookouts, family gatherings... trip to the ER?

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For many, Memorial Day weekend means cookouts, family gatherings and fun in the sun. Despite the excitement surrounding the “unofficial start of summer,” many accidents occur, and several hospitals in Florida are experiencing longer waits, which could increase over the busy holiday weekend.

Accidents often happen due to distractions while preparing food or from poor food handling, such as leaving perishable ingredients out in the sun for too long. Avocado hand has gained some attention in the news and social media recently with many people suffering injuries from cutting through this popular fruit. These accidents serve as a reminder to use care when preparing food, especially during the busy holiday weekend.

MedExpress, a neighborhood medical center with 22 locations in Florida, offers a full medical team and is available to treat anyone who has suffered a cut, burn or has a food-borne illness over Memorial Day weekend. Medical experts suggest following these safety practices for an injury and illness-free holiday weekend:

  • Never hold a food item when slicing down, or into it
  • Keep knives sharp, as dull knives are more likely to slip when cutting
  • Keep young children at least three feet away from the grill area while it is in use

For the past four years, MedExpress has consistently seen an increase in patient visits the day after Memorial Day, specifically for lacerations as well as muscular and skeletal injuries.

Emergency Room, Memorial Day

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