Crowds celebrate the Fourth of July and other holidays by igniting such things as fireworks, sparklers, bottle rockets, and firecrackers. Nevertheless, the misuse of explosives often turns the celebration into a calamity. In 2017, emergency departments treated around 12,900 injuries due to fireworks, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. In the same year, the use of pyrotechnics and fireworks caused at least eight deaths. Clearly, this worrisome number demonstrates the need for more efforts to decrease accidents caused by firework explosions.
Accidental Injuries From Fireworks
Pyrotechnics like firecrackers, sparklers, and bottle rockets are the sources of the most serious injuries, as well as the great majority of the injuries that victims suffer. In addition, the hands, head/neck, and eyes are the areas of the body that sustain injuries most often in situations like these.
In addition, burns cause the lion’s share of emergency room visits, although cuts, bruises, and bumps are the most common types of head injuries, regardless of whether burns contributed or not. Fireworks have the potential to inflict serious injuries, including blindness, third-degree burns, and lifelong scars. In addition, fireworks may cause physical damage to houses and automobiles, which can be costly to repair.
Who’s Most Vulnerable to Firework-Related Injuries?
One in four pyrotechnic injuries occur to children under the age of 15, and men are twice as likely as women to suffer injury from explosions. Again, Fourth of July fireworks and these related events contribute to the bulk of these injuries.
And to make matters worse, many serious hand injuries caused by fireworks end with the loss of a finger or thumb. First aid procedures include washing, wrapping with a fresh towel, applying ice, and keeping the hand elevated until help comes. You should wipe any lost fingertip or digit with a saltwater solution if you discover one. Wrap it in gauze and place it on ice before sealing it in a bag. Make sure you take the wounded finger to the emergency room after that.
Meanwhile, fireworks’ very loud noise may result in long-term hearing damage. A firecracker, for instance, may create up to 150 decibels when it explodes three feet away, which can damage hearing. Other symptoms may also include ringing in the ears and pain in the ears in addition to hearing loss. Maintain a 500-foot minimum distance from fireworks to prevent hearing damage. First-aid measures include covering the ears and removing the sufferer from the loudspeaker. After your accident, make an appointment with your doctor for an assessment of your ears and hearing.
Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer
Every year, when spring transitions into summer, there is a greater chance of being seriously injured by fireworks. If you or a loved one has been hurt by fireworks, you should get in touch with a personal injury lawyer in Kansas City as soon as possible. There may be options that may help you move ahead with your life.
Our team at Peterson & Associates, P.C. has decades of experience in successfully defending clients who have been injured as a result of incidents involving pyrotechnics in Kansas City and around the state of Missouri. In the aftermath of a fireworks incident, our legal team may be able to assist you in seeking justice.
Contact our Kansas City fireworks injury lawyers as soon as possible for a no-cost examination of your case. Please call us at 816-888-8888 so that we can assist you in protecting your rights.