07/09/2006
Found it here : http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/09-07-06_z1_news_10.html
After a two-year layoff, the state health department found fireworks injuries were up slightly this year, with 251 people hurt during the days leading up to the holiday.
Hospitals around Indiana also reported injuries were up slightly this year, though they were roughly what they had been in 2003. The seriousness of the injuries increased, as 11 percent required hospitalization this year compared to 6 percent in 2004.
The last time Indiana collected data on fireworks injuries was in 2003 and 2004, before an old law expired. The latest fireworks law, which legalized most consumer fireworks this year, required Indiana Health Department to collect data again.
“We found the majority of the cases were burns, which is not unexpected,” said Dr. Charlene Graves, injury prevention director for the Indiana State Department of Health.
Sparklers and bottle rocket each accounted for 20 percent of the injuries, followed closely by firecrackers with 18 percent. The median age of those injured was 17 years old.
One surprising finding was that among those under 18 years old, 64 percent were injured while an adult was present.
“Having an adult doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be injured,” Graves said.
Graves, a pediatrician, conducted past state studies on fireworks. Though the number of injuries by fireworks is dwarfed by car accidents and the other leading causes of preventable causes of injuries, she said the numbers are enough to draw caution.
“Rather than set off fireworks yourself, at home, we would probably still recommend you go to a public fireworks display. But I’m not sure that is a message that people necessarily want to hear,” Graves said.
The Department of Health plans to collect data from hospitals for five years, then run a detailed statistical analysis, department spokesman Erik Deckers said.
Found it here : http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/09-07-06_z1_news_10.html
After a two-year layoff, the state health department found fireworks injuries were up slightly this year, with 251 people hurt during the days leading up to the holiday.
Hospitals around Indiana also reported injuries were up slightly this year, though they were roughly what they had been in 2003. The seriousness of the injuries increased, as 11 percent required hospitalization this year compared to 6 percent in 2004.
The last time Indiana collected data on fireworks injuries was in 2003 and 2004, before an old law expired. The latest fireworks law, which legalized most consumer fireworks this year, required Indiana Health Department to collect data again.
“We found the majority of the cases were burns, which is not unexpected,” said Dr. Charlene Graves, injury prevention director for the Indiana State Department of Health.
Sparklers and bottle rocket each accounted for 20 percent of the injuries, followed closely by firecrackers with 18 percent. The median age of those injured was 17 years old.
One surprising finding was that among those under 18 years old, 64 percent were injured while an adult was present.
“Having an adult doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be injured,” Graves said.
Graves, a pediatrician, conducted past state studies on fireworks. Though the number of injuries by fireworks is dwarfed by car accidents and the other leading causes of preventable causes of injuries, she said the numbers are enough to draw caution.
“Rather than set off fireworks yourself, at home, we would probably still recommend you go to a public fireworks display. But I’m not sure that is a message that people necessarily want to hear,” Graves said.
The Department of Health plans to collect data from hospitals for five years, then run a detailed statistical analysis, department spokesman Erik Deckers said.
