LOUISVILLE, Colo. — As we celebrate our nation's birthday, many people will hit the streets lighting off fireworks in celebration. But not every home display will go smoothly.
Dr. Rebecca Kornas, Medical Director of AdventHealth Avista's emergency department, said if injuries happen, they're ready to help.
"You see a lot of burns," she said. "You see a lot of explosions. We see people that have blown off their hands. But honestly the most common things are burns, singed eyebrows. Burns to the face are pretty common. You can see some fractures associated with that."
AdventHealth reports each of their Colorado hospitals and emergency departments typically treats five to 15 people for fireworks injuries each year. Most of those are minor burns, but those injuries can be serious.
"I think people might hand their children some fireworks, like you've always given your kids sparklers in the past. But sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees, which is hot enough to melt metal," Kornas said.
Just this week, AdventHealth treated five people injured from fireworks, including one patient who came in after lighting a firecracker and not letting it go. That resulted in second and third degree burns, which will need skin grafts.
Around the country, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said last year, 9,700 people were hurt from fireworks. Eight people died.
And it's not just on the Fourth of July. Two out of every three injuries happen in the weeks before and after the holiday.
Kornas said if you're going to be lighting off fireworks anytime soon, make sure you're doing it legally and keep a bucket of water and hose nearby.
"We're here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. If you need us, we're here. But in order to stay out of the emergency department, I recommend just making smart decisions. Don't mix alcohol and fireworks. Don't mix any other drugs with fireworks. Please keep fireworks out of the hands of children," Kornas said.
If you do get burned, Kornas said to run the burn under cool water to get the temperature down quickly. If you start to blister, if you can't move the injured area or if the burn is bigger than the palm of your hand, she said, that's when you should go to the ER.
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