As the July 4th holiday approaches, there is both good news & bad news about injuries from fireworks. The good news: These injuries dropped by 15% between 2005 & 2006. The bad news: There were still 9,200 people treated for fireworks-related injuries in emergency departments in 2006.
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) & the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks is sending this safety message to July 4th revelers: let’s reduce that number to zero in 2008!
“We are pleased the rate of injuries from fireworks has dropped, but 9,200 people injured is still 9,200 too many,” said Dr. Linda Lawrence, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “Nearly half of the injuries were to the head, & one-third of the injured were for children under age 15. Emergency physicians can & do perform miracles every day, but there are some injuries we cannot undo. We can never replace a hand or an eye or a life.”
Play it safe and leave fireworks displays to the professionals.
Here are some facts and figures from 2006:
* 60% of fireworks injuries occur in the month surrounding July 4th.
* 90% of fireworks injuries treated in the emergency department come from consumer fireworks.
* Sparklers alone, which may burn at temperatures higher than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, were responsible for more than 20% of fireworks injuries.
* More than half of fireworks injuries were burns.
* Males accounted for 3-quarters of all fireworks injuries.
“A drop of 15% in just one year is great progress, but it would be even better if we eliminated fireworks injuries completely,” said Dr. Lawrence. “We encourage all Americans to celebrate July 4th safely & responsibly by attending only professional fireworks displays.”
ACEP's a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 26,000 members. ACEP's committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research & public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico & the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches & other government agencies.