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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, July 29, 2005

57 people injured by July 4 fireworks

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

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Nearly 60 people, including a 1-year-old child, suffered fireworks-related injuries on the Fourth of July that were serious enough to require medical treatment, according to the Department of Health.

The 57 injuries were the highest in the three years that the department has tracked injuries caused by July Fourth fireworks. There were 32 injuries reported in 2004 and 17 injuries in 2003, said department spokeswoman Darcie Yukimura.

The information was gathered from emergency departments at 22 hospitals statewide, as well as the Hana Health Center on Maui and the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

The victims ranged from 1 to 42 years of age, with a majority (79 percent) being 14 or younger. Nearly all of the injuries were burns, the report said, and most people (89 percent) were injured while setting off or holding fireworks, while six were observers.

The report said most of the injuries could have been prevented by complying with the age requirements and time limits set by law. State law prohibits anyone under 18 from purchasing or setting off fireworks.

"The department just wants to bring down these injuries," Yukimura said. "We do have injury prevention tips on our Web site. We just ask that people comply with safety regulations and that they use extra caution."

But some city officials are calling for stricter laws to regulate the use of fireworks on the Fourth of July.

A City Council committee Wednesday passed a resolution that would ask the state Legislature to allow county governments to adopt fireworks laws that are stricter than current state laws. The resolution stated that illegal use of fireworks has been responsible for a "record number" of brushfires this summer.

Honolulu Fire Chief Attilio Leonardi has called for a total ban on fireworks sales for the July holiday.

The Health Department reported that 37 of the 57 injuries occurred on O'ahu, eight on Kaua'i, seven on the Big Island and five on Maui.