According to Daniel Guzman, M.D., a pediatric emergency medicine physician with Cook Children’s Health Care System, children are treated in emergency departments every year for fireworks-related injuries, including burns, eye trauma and hand injuries. While many families associate these injuries with the person lighting the fireworks, children and other bystanders can also be at risk.

Although fireworks are a beloved Fourt of July tradition, Cook Children’s Health Care System, encourages families to celebrate safely and understand the risks fireworks can pose to children.

What type of fireworks injuries do children often experience?

Fireworks can cause serious injuries in a matter of seconds. Even legal consumer fireworks can burn at temperatures high enough to cause severe skin damage.

Some of the most common fireworks-related injuries include:

• Burns to the hands, fingers and face
• Eye injuries that can threaten vision
• Cuts and lacerations
• Hearing damage from loud explosions
• Falls or other injuries while running away from fireworks

Sparklers aren’t as safe as they seem

Sparklers are often considered a safer option for young children, but they can be surprisingly dangerous.

 “Many parents feel that sparklers are safe because they don’t explode, however, the risk for burns is significant because they can reach 2000˚F (1093˚C) which is hot enough to melt some metals and cause severe burns.” said Dr. Guzman.

 Young children may accidentally touch the hot wire, wave sparklers near others, or drop them onto bare feet. Using glow sticks instead of sparklers is a safer, brighter, and more fun way to celebrate.

Fireworks safety tips for families

The safest way for children to enjoy fireworks is by attending a professional public display rather than using fireworks at home according to Dr. Guzman.

If your family chooses to use legal consumer fireworks, help reduce the risk by following these safety tips:

• Never allow young children to handle or light fireworks.
• Keep children and pets a safe distance away from fireworks.
• Ensure a sober adult supervises all fireworks.
• Read and follow all instructions on the packaging.
• Never relight a firework that doesn’t ignite properly.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby.
• Never point or throw fireworks toward another person or pet.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Soak used fireworks in water before throwing them away.
• Avoid homemade or illegal fireworks.

What should you do if a child is injured?

If a child is burned by fireworks, move them away from the source of the injury. Cool the burn with cool water as soon as possible, remove clothing from the burned areas and apply a gauze bandage or clean, soft cloth. Seek medical care attention right away, especially for burns involving the face, hands, feet, joints or large areas of skin.

If a child has an eye injury, “do not rub the eye or attempt to wash it out; call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department,” said Dr. Guzman.

Other Fourth of July safety reminders

Fireworks aren’t the only risk during Independence Day celebrations. Parents can also help keep children safe by:

• Never leaving children unattended near pools, lakes or other bodies of water.
• Making sure children wear properly fitted life jackets when appropriate.
• Keeping kids hydrated, especially during extreme heat.
• Taking frequent breaks from outdoor activities.
• Applying and reapplying sunscreen throughout the day.
• Grilling outdoors only, keeping children at least 3 feet away from hot grills.
• Keeping matches, lighters and lighter fluid out of children’s reach.

The safest celebration is a prepared one

The Fourth of July should be remembered for time with family, not a trip to the emergency department. Choosing professional fireworks displays, supervising children and practicing simple safety precautions can help families enjoy a fun and memorable holiday while reducing the risk of serious injuries.

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Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties Abilene

Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties in Abilene is staffed by three nurses who feel blessed and honored to be part of the Cook Children's family.

One such nurse, Sophia Garza, has been at the clinic for more than 17 years, witnessing its growth from a small location into a thriving, expanded facility that now supports multiple specialties. Her favorite part of the job is being able to see the children of former patients.

"I've been here long enough that I'm seeing the children of some of our previous patients," Garza said.

One special example is a father who was treated for Type 1 diabetes as a child, who now brings his son to this clinic for care.

This Abilene clinic has made a huge impact on the community by allowing patients to receive specialized care locally instead of making the three-hour drive to Fort Worth or Prosper. This is especially beneficial for oncology patients, who can now get treatment at the Abilene location rather than making the long round trip for each visit.

Garza said there is truly something special about this clinic.

"We are like family, and I cannot imagine working with a different group of people," she said. "We all come together with the same goal: to have fun and make sure families are getting the care they need."

Garza is proud of the clinic and looks forward to its continued growth, remaining eager to serve more families in the West Texas area. Here's to 40 more years for the Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties in Abilene!

Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties Midland

For many families in Midland, having a Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties clinic located in their city is a critical lifeline. It ensures that children in this West Texas region can access premier care and medical expertise without the burden of travel. With over four decades of service, this clinic’s impact is deeply rooted and has become a cornerstone in the Midland community.

Julie Jolly, a nurse at this clinic for nearly 27 years, says she has loved every minute of her career at Cook Children’s. She has many unique patient family stories, including one recent discovery: she was caring for a young patient with leukemia only to find out later that the patient’s father had also received treatment for his childhood cancer through the Cook Children’s network. This generational connection shows the enduring legacy of care the health care system provides.

Jolly’s years of service have illuminated a profound truth about her young patients. While she has learned much from them all, she is continuously inspired by their unyielding resilience.

She describes her patients as "grabbing life with everything they have," embodying strength that not only helps them heal but also gives immense meaning back to the caregivers.

The Midland clinic operates with powerful team unity, expressing deep pride in their role as a vital component of Cook Children’s Health Care System. This shared commitment and focused dedication are what truly set them apart, ensuring that compassionate, specialized care is fully delivered to every family they serve. Here's to 45 amazing years of the Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties in Midland!

Cook Children’s Pediatrics Granbury

Cook Children's Granbury is celebrating an amazing anniversary: 30 years of serving children in the area.

The clinic has been part of significant growth in both the surrounding community and its practice.

According to staff members and physicians, the clinic thrives because of the community's trust, which is evident in seeing multiple generations of these patient families.

“Because of this accomplishment, we are blessed to have patients return with their own children, gifting us with 'grand-patients,'" said Elisha Soto, a medical assistant at this primary care office. “Everyone at the clinic is ecstatic to serve the next generation—the best possible celebration for this milestone.”

As the clinic looks toward the future, staff are excited for continued growth. Here’s to the next 30 years of Cook Children’s Pediatrics Granbury!

Celebration and Gratitude

The exceptional care provided inside of each of these clinics is all because of the amazing staff, nurses and physicians who have dedicated their lives to this work. The milestones and celebrations would not have been possible without their hard work. We best serve our patients and their families because of each of them. We celebrate you and thank you for everything you have done this holiday season!

The landscape of pediatric health care services in North Texas changed on Jan. 9, 2023, when Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper opened its doors to offer emergency care, surgery and other crucial hospital services.

Over the past year, thousands of babies, children and teens from across the northern region of North Texas have been able to stay closer to home while receiving the same high-quality care that Cook Children’s has long provided at our Fort Worth medical center. The new facility in Prosper – with innovative technology, whimsical décor and the signature Blue Peaks – brought a more convenient location to families in the rapidly growing northern region of the Metroplex.

The first year at the medical center was a period of excitement and growth. The facility opened on Jan. 9, 2023, with 24 inpatient beds; by fall 2024, plans are underway to double its capacity in order to be ready to care for more families as the region’s population continues to boom. To make sure the campus is best positioned to grow with the needs of the region, the system purchased an additional 12 acres, increasing the total size of the campus from 23 acres to 35 acres.   

“What a whirlwind year it's been! Caring for the precious children of Prosper and the surrounding communities has filled us with immense joy and purpose,” said Rick W. Merrill, president and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System. “The warm embrace from the community is a most cherished milestone in this journey.  Your trust in us is an honor we hold close.” 

Nancy Cychol, Executive Vice President & Chief of Hospital Services for Cook Children’s, gave credit to a workforce that fosters an atmosphere of kindness and collaboration toward a common goal: Everything for the child.   

“Achieving accreditation from the Joint Commission within 50 days of opening in Prosper is a testament to our dedicated team's unwavering commitment,” Cychol said. “As we continue to grow and expand, we pledge to be here for your children at every step.” 

Tony Anani, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and gastroenterologist at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper, said the first year of operation brought rewards and challenges. By adding specialized services along the way, he said, the hospital was able to handle more patients with complex needs, rather than transporting them elsewhere. Neighbors in and around Prosper were welcoming. 

“Thank you for the trust, thank you for the feedback, thank you for the patience, and thank you for the partnership as we continue to bring world-class care and the Cook Children’s culture to this area,” Dr. Anani said.  

Sheralyn Hartline, assistant vice president for Nursing and Patient Care, predicted that the second year will also bring great progress in the medical center’s clinical capabilities.

“The staff have been amazing at identifying change opportunities and being flexible while making adjustments,” Hartline said. “We are very excited to be able to keep these patients in their community and provide them the high-quality care that Cook Children’s offers.”

The medical center’s first anniversary today is a happy occasion to revisit the building’s spectacular design and the dedication of the staff. Let’s take a look back -- and then preview some of what Cook Children’s is planning as we deliver on the Promise to improve the health and wellbeing of every child in our community. 

Laying a Foundation

Cook Children’s set down roots in Prosper in 2019 with an urgent care and primary care clinic, followed by a medical office building and outpatient surgery center in 2020. From 2019 to 2022, Cook Children’s primary care network grew from 13 providers to more than 43 providers becoming the largest pediatric primary care network on the eastern side of the Metroplex. When the medical center came on the scene in 2023, it enhanced the existing services by adding an emergency department; surgery and procedure rooms; outpatient infusion center; imaging services; a retail pharmacy; medical-surgical and pediatric intensive care beds; lab services; and two floors of shell space.

Kevin Greene, vice president and administrator, Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper, said the design of the campus is the first of its kind in the region as it allowed families to have access to a full complement of outpatient, emergent and inpatient services on one campus. Designing the campus in such a way has allowed our teams to help connect the dots for our families so that they can more easily access the appropriate services for their child’s needs.

“From our primary care and urgent care clinics, to our specialty clinics, outpatient surgery center and medical center, our families now have access to the full weight of Cook Children’s Health Care System close to home,” Greene said.   

Here are a few highlights of the medical center:

• Playful features just inside the front doors have proven very popular with visitors of all ages. The atrium includes a digital wall, a ceiling mural of flying cows and twinkling lights, and a color-coded path on the floor that guides families to their destination. 
• Each inpatient room includes a 65-inch television that syncs with personal devices for ordering food and for entertainment as well as medical consultations.  
• Health technology advocates at the Peaks Tech Zone are on hand to assist with setting up medical devices and MyCookChildren’s accounts.

The building itself was intentionally designed with special touches that reduce the stress on parents and make our patients feel safe when receiving treatment for their injuries and illness. After 365 days, you can see more than ever the thought that went into making the patient and family experience a priority: Spacious and beautiful rooms, great food, ample parking and most of all … employees who love and support their patients. Greene said he has had families tell him how grateful they are that Cook Children’s came to Prosper and how their child didn’t want to leave because of how much they enjoy being here.

New services were implemented during the first year as needs arose. One of the most significant additions came seven months after opening when the medical center, in conjunction with Fort Worth’s neurology team, brought on continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring. It’s a test that reads electrical activity in the brain so that seizure disorder can be detected and diagnosed. By providing this service, patients and families were now able to receive critical neurology services close to home.

Looking to the Future

The medical center's 10-bed emergency department will be expanding to 20 beds in 2024. Two operating rooms opened last year, with plans to add a third OR in 2024 and a fourth at a later date.

The hospital will continue to provide excellent care, while evaluating opportunities to bring on additional services that will allow for more complex patients to receive emergent and inpatient care in Prosper. The continued investment in our services and in our people will ensure that when our patients and families need us we’ll be ready, no matter the situation.

Teamwork and Gratitude

The Cook Children’s systemwide culture platform – the values of respect, safety, generosity, collaboration, imagination and kindness – set the tone for the Prosper medical center’s first year. The medical center had hired about 350 employees, most of them new to Cook Children’s. They came together and committed to the culture.

Greene gave credit to the vision of Mr. Merrill, the Cook Children’s Board of Directors and senior leadership who years ago recognized as a part of our Promise, the escalating need for pediatric health care services in the northern region.

 “We all feel like we're a part of this journey together, and that we're creating the foundation for the next 100 years in Prosper,” he said. “From our outpatient clinics to the medical center, the team has done an amazing job providing world-class care and a one-of-a-kind experience. In doing so, our families have entrusted us to care for their most cherished gift, their child, and for that we are truly honored.”

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