Posted on: Saturday, July 24, 2004

July 4 fireworks injuries nearly double

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

Thirty-two people statewide suffered fireworks-related injuries over the Fourth of July weekend, nearly double last year's rate, state health officials said.

Dan Galanis of the Injury Prevention and Control Program for the state Department of Health said there appeared to be no critical injuries this year, and the number injured was far below the New Year's holiday total of 72.

Galanis said it was only the second year his office tracked such injuries over the three-day holiday weekend, so the overall trend is not clear. Seventeen people were injured a year ago.

All but one of the injuries were burns, most of them from setting off or holding fireworks. None of the injuries required an overnight hospital stay; all were treated in emergency rooms, Galanis said.

He said the injury data also showed:

• Most of those injured were boys 14 and younger. Overall, 71 percent of the victims were males.

• Hands and fingers were the most commonly injured body parts, at 66 percent.

• Twenty-five of the 32 injuries occurred on O'ahu, three in Kaua'i County, and two each in Hawai'i and Maui counties.

For more information on fireworks safety, visit the state Health Department at www.hawaii.gov/health or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.