Thursday, July 2, 2015
Greenwich, CT – With the long July 4th holiday weekend comes the threat of fireworks-related injuries that can bring children and adults to the Emergency Department.
"Fireworks are an important part of many July 4th celebrations. But fireworks can be dangerous and potentially deadly unless you take safety precautions," said Christopher Davison, MD, medical director of Greenwich Hospital's Emergency Department. "If an injury does occur, seek medical attention immediately. Treating the injury yourself could make things worse."
With an eye injury, Dr. Davison advises patients not to touch, rub, flush out or apply ointment to avoid further damage. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye and immediately seek medical attention. If it's a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool (not cold) water over the burn (do not use ice). Then head to the Emergency Department.
On a national level, an average of 200 people visit the Emergency Department every day from fireworks-related injuries in the month around Independence Day, according to a 2011 Consumer Product Safety Commission survey. Illegal and homemade fireworks were involved in all four deaths reported to the commission.
More than half the injuries were burns with hands and fingers (46 percent) the most injured body parts followed by eyes (17 percent), heads, faces, and ears (17 percent), legs (11 percent), trunk (5 percent) and arms (4 percent). Youth age 19 and under accounted for 36 percent of those injured; 40 percent were 24 to 44 years old. Sixty-eight percent of the injured were men.
Greenwich Hospital's Emergency Department offers these fireworks safety tips:
Greenwich Hospital is a member of Yale New Haven Health. Greenwich is a 206-bed (includes 32 isolettes) community hospital serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. It is a academic affiliate of Yale School of Medicine. Since opening in 1903, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a progressive medical center and teaching institution representing all medical specialties and offering a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. Greenwich Hospital is recognized throughout the healthcare industry as a leader in service and patient satisfaction excellence. Greenwich Hospital has the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. www.greenwichhospital.org
Magaly Olivero
Tel. 203-863-3463
Email