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January 30, 2004
Honolulu– Scores of fireworks-related injuries worked with the
wet weather to mar New Year celebrations in Hawai`i, this year.
According to the Injury Prevention and Control Program (IPCP) of the
Hawai`i Department of Health, 72 people were treated at emergency
departments in Hawai`i for fireworks-related injuries. In addition,
four individuals were treated for smoke inhalation. All except one of
the victims were rushed to emergency through private
transportation.
This is the fourth year in which the IPCP, with cooperation from
hospitals and health centers statewide, has conducted surveillance of
fireworks injuries during the New Year period. The majority of the
injuries, 69%, were reported on O‘ahu, and nearly a third were
reported on the neighbor islands: 17% in Maui County, 10% in Hawai`i
County, and 4% in Kaua‘i County.
Although a variety of fireworks types were reported as the cause of
injury, most often mentioned were "flowers" and sparklers. Where
circumstances were reported, 75% of the victims had been injured while
igniting or holding fireworks while 25% had been observers. The
majority of the injuries, 89%, were burns. Physical areas most often
reported as injured were hands and fingers (55 injuries), face (7
injuries), and eye (5 injuries).
Most of the victims, 71%, were males. Despite the age restrictions
on purchase and use of fireworks, 74% of the victims were 17 years of
age or younger: 5 injury victims were between the ages of 1 and 4
years, 16 were between 5 and 9 years, 23 were between the ages of 10
and 14 years, and 9 were between the ages of 15 and 17 years.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following
fireworks safety tips:
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
- Be sure other people are out of range before lighting
fireworks.
- Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house,
dry leaves, and flammable materials.
- Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.
- Keep a bucket of water in case of a malfunction or fire.
Injuries, including fireworks-related injuries, are preventable.
Remembering safety first is the best way to start the New Year.
ACCESS has developed several community partnerships in Oahu
including Aloha United Way (211), Warm Lines, etc.
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For more information, contact:
Darcie Yukimura
Hawai`i Department of Health
Phone: 586-4402
E-mail: dayukimura@mail.health.state.hi.us
Dan Galanis
Injury Epidemiologist
Hawai`i Department of Health
Phone: 586-5943
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