CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Cartersville Medical Center will offer free oral, head and neck cancer screenings early next month.

Local doctors will perform the screenings on Friday, Apr. 3 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the hospital's Hope Center.

Last year, more than 100,000 Americans were diagnosed with head and neck cancers, according to Cartersville Medical Center. Warning signs include mouth sores that don't heal, persistent mouth pain, difficulty chewing and swallowing, a sore throat, and changes in the voice. Many patients do not recognize the symptoms until it is too late.

Visit cartersvillemedical.com for more information.

Cartersville Medical Center is located at 960 Joe Frank Harris Parkway.

ATLANTA -- Thousands of Georgia parents are buying sparklers for their children this Fourth of July, thinking they are a safe way to celebrate. But, as a Georgia eye expert warns, sparklers heat up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit -- hot enough to melt some metals -- and are the number one cause of fireworks injuries requiring trips to the emergency room.

Members of the Georgia Optometric Association are urging parents to leave all the fireworks to the professionals and avoid fireworks that may cause serious eye injuries when used inappropriately. Some of the most common fireworks injuries are eye abrasions, lacerations, contusions and foreign matter in the eye. The majority of these cases are related to the use of sparklers.

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Cartersville Medical Center is making it easier than ever for patients to access their records.

Discharge summaries, lab results, radiology reports and visit histories can now be accessed on the medical center's website.

"This is an important step for Cartersville Medical Center. It allows patients to access their information when they need it, and enrollment is easy and convenient," Brad Treglown, director of the center's information services, said in a release.

The medical center said its new portal is private and passwords are encrypted. The website times out when a patient leaves it open and unattended.

Visit cartersvillemedical.com/patient-portal to check out the new portal.