Health Highlights: Cicadas + Burn safety
They're loud, have bright red eyes and shed their exoskeletons all over your yard.
But they're completely harmless.
We're talking about cicadas, the winged insects that may be swarming your trees and yards this summer.
Dr. Brian Curtis with OSF HealthCare says to experience the rarity of nature while it's here.
“Enjoy them. It’s part of nature, right? They only come around every 15-16 years," Dr. Curtis says.
While they are loud bugs, Dr. Curtis says it's only during the day. So don't lose any sleep over cicadas.
Summer's a time for being outdoors and grilling your favorite foods. But medical experts say it's important to play it safe before lighting that first flame.
Make sure your gas grill is ready. If it's not primed correctly, that could lead up to a buildup of gas that can explode.
Another concern is when people use lighter fluid with charcoal. Some people pour too much lighter fluid on which can quickly create flash burns.
“Garages are a very dangerous place. You think ‘I'm going to get out of the rain, or I'll be able to grill year-round’ and it's going to be warm and safe," says Dr. Stathis Poulakidas, the medical director of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center's Burn Unit. "But you have turpentine, gasoline, all different types of gas products in the garage that you might use for your lawn mowers or weed eaters.”
If you get lighter fluid on your skin, move away from the grill and wash your hands and arms to ensure when you do light the flame, it doesn't catch your arms on fire.
Invest in a fire extinguisher and avoid drinking alcohol while grilling.