Fourth of July safety tips from Orchin Orthodontics!

This Sunday - which happens to be Independence Day - Dr. Andrew Orchin and our staff will be busy celebrating our nation's 234th birthday. For most folks, the Fourth of July is a chance to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary of the signing of America's Declaration of Independence. It's also a time for people to pay homage to all our soldiers, past and present - who lost their lives in battle - and the brave servicemen - and women - who continue to place themselves in danger every day so that we may continue to enjoy our freedoms.

Whatever you might be doing over Independence Day weekend, our entire staff would like to offer these safety tips for your well-being.

*Only light one firework at a time, and never have any part of your body over fireworks.
*If you must be out in the heat, limit your activities to morning and evening hours and drink plenty of fluids, but only those that contain little to no sugar. Water is preferable.
*Planning on swimming? Never go into the water unless you know how deep it is.
*If you fall and hit your head and you begin to feel nauseous or lightheaded, seek medical attention immediately.
*Heading out? Remember to wear sunscreen: wearing SPF 15 helps, but you should reapply it every couple of hours, especially after swimming or sweating in the sun.
*Finally, remember to avoid ribs, corn on the cob and other hard or sticky foods that can damage your braces!

We hope these tips help, and we hope you have a great week and a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend! We encourage you to give us a call at (202) 686-5100 for more summer safety tips.