INDIANAPOLIS-State health officials released preliminary injury figures for the 2006 Fourth of July holiday season. As of July 31, 2006, there were 251 cases reported to the Indiana State Department of Health.
"Nearly three-quarters of these injuries were burns," said Charlene Graves, M.D., director, Injury Prevention. "Most of them involved burns to the hands, but some also involved burns to the eyes and face as well."
Health officials also report an increase in the severity of injuries, with 11 percent of injuries requiring hospitalization. This is an increase from six percent in 2004.
"More than half of the total injuries involved children and adolescents, but they make up less than one-fourth of the population," said Dr. Graves. "They don't understand the dangers of fireworks, so they don't take the proper precautions. That's why we see so many injuries involving children."
Other highlights from the report include:
One out of every four reported injuries involved the eyes, with 97 percent of those with eye injuries not using any method of eye protection.
Twenty-three percent of injured persons required either hospital admission or specialized care for burns or eye injuries.
Sparklers, rockets, and firecrackers were associated with 58 percent of all reported injuries.
Fireworks use on private property accounted for more than 86 percent of reported injuries.
However, health officials caution against drawing long-term conclusions from the report.
Dr. Graves said, "We really need five years of data before we can identify specific trends. There are too many variables from year to year that make determining any causes impossible, and any conclusions inaccurate."
"Nearly three-quarters of these injuries were burns," said Charlene Graves, M.D., director, Injury Prevention. "Most of them involved burns to the hands, but some also involved burns to the eyes and face as well."
Health officials also report an increase in the severity of injuries, with 11 percent of injuries requiring hospitalization. This is an increase from six percent in 2004.
"More than half of the total injuries involved children and adolescents, but they make up less than one-fourth of the population," said Dr. Graves. "They don't understand the dangers of fireworks, so they don't take the proper precautions. That's why we see so many injuries involving children."
Other highlights from the report include:
One out of every four reported injuries involved the eyes, with 97 percent of those with eye injuries not using any method of eye protection.
Twenty-three percent of injured persons required either hospital admission or specialized care for burns or eye injuries.
Sparklers, rockets, and firecrackers were associated with 58 percent of all reported injuries.
Fireworks use on private property accounted for more than 86 percent of reported injuries.
However, health officials caution against drawing long-term conclusions from the report.
Dr. Graves said, "We really need five years of data before we can identify specific trends. There are too many variables from year to year that make determining any causes impossible, and any conclusions inaccurate."