June 29, 2006
Enjoy The Show... From a Safe Distance
DAVENPORT, Iowa – In the hands of people trained to handle them, colorful fireworks displays bring forth "oohs’’ and "ahhs’’ from spectators enjoying one of the traditions of Fourth of July celebrations.
In the wrong hands, those reactions can become expressions of pain.
In a flash, thousands of Americans will make an unplanned trip to a hospital emergency department around the Independence Day holiday again this year to be treated for fireworks-related injuries. Injuries from fireworks have become a regrettable part of Independence Day celebrations.
Andrea Bladel, RN, BSN and Trauma Coordinator for Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street, Davenport, said the best way to avoid a trip to the emergency department in the next week is to leave fireworks displays to the professionals. "The professional fireworks displays are safer, bigger and better than anything we can do in our backyards.
"Even sparklers, which are one of the few devices legal to use in Iowa and Illinois, burn at 1,800 degrees (Fahrenheit) and can be dangerous. Used improperly, they can cause burns and burn clothing.
"If kids must use sparklers, we urge close parental supervision and urge kids to stay in one place and not run with sparklers. Regardless of the type of fireworks, kids need close supervision.’’
Iowa and Illinois law allows only sparklers and similar novelties to be ignited. The use of more explosive fireworks is illegal.
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control reported that there were an estimated 9,300 persons treated for fireworks-related injuries in the United States in 2003. Four persons died from fireworks-related injuries. An estimated 5 percent of fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency departments required hospitalization.
Bladel said there were no hospitalizations related to fireworks in 2005 at Genesis Medical Center, Davenport.
Bladel said the most disturbing statistic, which is supported by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control statistics, is that young people have the highest injury rates. "A child will tell parents, ‘I can do it myself, I don’t need help.’ Often the child can’t do it themselves and there are injuries,’’ Bladel said. "Those injuries can be severe.’’
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, an agency of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, children ages 5 to 9 had the highest injury rate for fireworks-related incidents in 2003. Half of the fireworks-related injuries occurred among children ages 14 and under.
"One of the reasons we continue to see fireworks injuries, some of them severe, is that people don’t recognize how dangerous these devices can be,’’ Bladel added. "If children are going to shoot fireworks, they need very close supervision. Children often lack the physical coordination to handle any fireworks safety. Even with a sparkler, they can fall and suffer burns.’’
Fireworks-related injuries most often involve hands and fingers (26 percent), eyes (21%) and hands and face (18%). More than half of the injuries (63%) are burns. Sparklers accounted for 11 percent of the reported injuries in 2003.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers these recommendations to prevent fireworks injuries:
- Do not allow young children to play with fireworks under any circumstances.
- Older children should only be permitted to use fireworks under close, adult supervision.
- Light fireworks outdoors in areas clear of houses, dry leaves, grass or flammable materials.
- Keep a bucket of water or a running hose nearby for emergencies.
- Be sure people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
- Never have any portion of your body directly over a firework while lighting.
- Don’t experiment with homemade fireworks.
