Updated at 1:22 p.m., Friday, January 18, 2008
105 in Hawaii treated for New Year's fireworks injuries
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU — According to a news release from the Hawai'i State Department of Health's Injury Prevention and Control Program, 105 people were treated at Hawai'i emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries during this New Year period. Almost all patients were taken to the hospital via private transport and nearly all who were treated were discharged. Only four patients required hospitalization.
The number of injuries increased by 14 percent compared to last New Year's period (92 injuries), and the current total of 105 injuries is the second highest total in the eight years the Department of Health has been gathering this information. Most of the increase was among patients in Honolulu County, from 66 injuries last year to 92 this year — a 39 percent increase, health officials said. There were eight injuries reported from Hawai'i County, and five from Kaua'i, the highest total yet reported from that county. There were no injuries reported for Maui County, compared to 13 the previous New Year period.
Most of the injuries — 93 percent — were burns, with hands and fingers being the most commonly affected parts of the body. The age of the victims ranged from infancy to 52 years, but two-thirds (68 percent or 67 percent) were under 18 years of age. Eight were under 5 years of age, and half (49 percent or 50 percent) were 6 to 14 years of age. Age was not known for four victims.
Fireworks-related injuries continue to be a significant cause of emergency department-treated trauma around the New Year period, particularly among young children. Among children ages 2 through 14, there were more injuries (56) from fireworks during the three-day period, than in an average month from car crashes (42), assaults (21), poisonings (13) or pedestrian crashes (9).
