Ten Tips to Stay Safe during Fireworks Season

In the month around the July 4th holiday, approximately 280 people in the U.S. go to emergency rooms every day with fireworks-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Though fireworks can be exciting, festive and fun – they can also be very dangerous. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital recommends the following tips and reminders to ensure a safe experience:

  1. Children should never play with fireworks. Firecrackers, rockets and sparklers can be extremely dangerous if not used properly. If you give sparklers to kids, make sure to keep them outside and away from faces, clothing and hair. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
  2. Buy legally and store safely. Observe local laws and make sure fireworks are legal in your area. Store in a cool, dry place and keep unused fireworks away from firing areas.
  3. Don’t DIY. Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
  4. Be prepared. Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and hose nearby.
  5. Keep a distance. Steer clear of others and never throw or point fireworks at someone. Light fireworks then move back quickly.
  6. Take precautions. Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket. Never light fireworks in a glass or metal container.
  7. Know your surroundings. Point fireworks away from homes. Keep away from brushes, leaves and other flammable substances.
  8. Quality, not quantity. Light one firework at a time and never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully. Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
  9. Make sure the fire is out and dispose of properly. Don’t allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event as they may still be hot. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
  10. Better yet, leave fireworks to the experts. This is the recommended course of action by the National Safety Council.

If an adult or child is injured by fireworks, immediately call your doctor or go to the hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don’t touch or rub it, as this may cause more damage. If it’s a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn and then call your doctor immediately.

Sports Physical Exams – Oconto and Oconto Falls

Prevea health centers in Oconto Falls and Oconto are now scheduling appointments for sports physical examinations for athletes wanting to participate in a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) sport.

Sports physicals are performed by Prevea Health providers and licensed athletic trainers. “We are examining everything from heart issues to musculoskeletal issues,” said Mike LaMere, Prevea Sports Medicine Outreach Manager. “We want to make sure athletes are healthy and ready to compete.”

Prevea Oconto Falls Health Center (853 S. Main St., on the campus of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls)

  • Thursday, July 25, 3 to 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 31, 3 to 5 p.m.
  • Call (920) 846-8187

Prevea Oconto Health Center (620 Smith Ave. in Oconto)

  • Tuesday, July 23, 1 to 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 31, 1 to 5 p.m.
  • Call (920) 834-4110 to make an appointment

For more information, visit: www.prevea.com/wiaa-physicals

Downloadable physical forms are available at: www.wiaawi.org

ASPI Proudly Presents “Footloose: The Musical”

The cast of “Footloose: The Musical” rehearses a scene at the Byng Community Theater in Abrams. Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. will present “Footloose: The Musical” on the weekends of June 21-23 and June 28-30. From left to right are Charis Wirtley, Jack Anderson, Owen Goffard, Katie Koehn, Abby Frank, Akeem Edmonds, Tyler Otto, and Bella Frank.

Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. proudly presents “Footloose: The Musical” for a two-weekend run on June 21-23 and June 28-30. The story follows city teen Ren McCormack and his move to the small town of Bomont, Utah, where dancing and rock music are not only discouraged, but banned. Follow Ren, his newfound friends, and the community as they grapple with love, loss, rebellion, and the right to dance.

The musical is based off the hit 1984 film and features 80’s Billboard hits such as “Let’s Hear if for the Boys” and “Holding Out for a Hero”.

“When Footloose was being adopted as a stage musical the writers transferred many of the songs directly from the movie soundtrack,” explained ASPI “Footloose” director Michael Laskowski.

“It was actually one of the very first musicals to be based on a non-musical movie which I think makes this production quite special and unique,” he continued.

“Footloose” is Laskowski’s first production with ASPI and his directorial debut of a musical. Though new to the ASPI family, Laskowski is no stranger to theater. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from UW-Oshkosh and has been involved in several area theatre companies including Evergreen Theatre, Green Bay Community Theatre, Riverside Players, and Wolf River Theatre.

“One of the many reasons why I adore my cast is that there is such a wide range of talents and experiences among them,” said Laskowski.

The show spotlights Akeem Edmonds as newcomer Ren McCormack and Abby Frank as reverend’s rebel daughter Ariel Moore.

“One of the special things we have with this cast is that it truly is a family affair,” explained Laskowski.

The “Footloose” cast features several family member ties, including sisters Abby and Bella Frank, (portraying Ariel and Rusty), along with two father/daughter duos, Jerry Wirtley and Charis Wirtley (portraying Rev. Shaw Moore and Wendy Jo) and Mark Koehn and Katie Koehn (portraying Coach Dunbar and Urleen).

“When you put together a cast for any type of show, that cast becomes like a family. And these coincidences just put a delightful ironic touch to that thought,” he continued.

Showtimes for ASPI’s production of “Footloose: The Musical” include June 21, 22, 28, and 29 at 7pm and June 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 1pm. All shows will be performed at the Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams.

ASPI will celebrate opening night on Friday, June 21, with a gala after the show. The audience is invited to enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks with the cast and crew.

To purchase tickets, check out the ASPI website at abramsspotlightproductions.com or by calling the box office at 920-826-5852.

“Footloose” is presented through special arrangement with R&H Theatricals. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by R&H Theatricals, 229 W. 28th St., 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 541-6600 Fax: (212) 586-6155 www.rnh.com. Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. Lyrics by Dean Pitchford. Music by Tom Snow and additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins, and Jim Steinman.