Celebrating Safely: Injuries rise with private displays
Canceled municipal displays coupled with looser sales restrictions preceded an explosion of people being hurt and killed by fireworks in 2020.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, many municipalities scrapped July Fourth fireworks displays during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 which may have spurred consumers to use fireworks on their own.
A new report by the commission finds a 50% increase in deaths and injuries from fireworks-related incidents in 2020, compared to 2019.At least 18 people died from fireworks-related incidents in 2020, compared to 12 reported for the previous year.About 15,600 people were treated in hospital emergency departments for fireworks injuries in 2020. There were about 10,000 ER-treated fireworks injuries in 2019.Legal in Pa.Consumer-grade fireworks, such as Roman candles and bottle rockets that contain a maximum of 50 milligrams of explosive material, have been legal in Pennsylvania since 2017.Consumer fireworks can be sold only from permanent facilities licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture with a $2 million insurance requirement.Sales are permitted to individuals age 18 and older. Permanent facilities may sell all legal consumer fireworks. The selling period is year round.Temporary structures, licensed by municipalities, may only sell ground and hand-held sparkling devices, helicopters/aerial spinners, roman candles, and mine and shell devices with explosive material not exceeding 500 grams. The selling period for these products is June 15 to July 8 and Dec. 21 to Jan. 2.According to Butler County Solicitor Wil White, authority over the licensing of fireworks displays is in the hands of the county's townships and municipalities.Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and the Burn Center at AHN West Penn Hospital joined with the Burn Prevention Network in a statewide effort, “Celebrate Safely, PA,” aimed at raising awareness about fireworks safety and reducing fireworks-related injuries during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.“At West Penn Burn Center, we treat fireworks-related injuries every year, many of them serious burns that can result in permanent scarring,” said Medical Director Ariel Aballay. “While we have always urged people to leave fireworks shows to the professionals, with the huge popularity of fireworks we are now urging the public to follow basic safety precautions when handling fireworks, especially when children are nearby.”Commonly injuredAccording to the Burn Prevention Network, hands and fingers are the most commonly injured area of the body.“While we want everyone to have a fun July 4th, we don't want children or adults to suffer permanent injuries that could affect them for the rest of their lives,” said Peter Tang, MD, Hand Surgeon and Program Director of the Allegheny General Hospital Hand Fellowship. “I recommend a safe distance from fireworks when they are ignited and no handling of lit fireworks, including sparklers which exceed 2,000 degrees when lit. Strict adult supervision of children around fireworks is a must.”Jenna L. Enscoe, RN, director of emergency services for Butler Health System, said of preparations for the July 4th holiday weekend, “In the Emergency Department we are committed to staffing the appropriate number of caregivers/staff to support patient volume and acuity at any given time. We have the ability to call in additional staff or utilize support from other areas of the hospital if/when necessary. Our focus continues to be providing the best quality care to each patient.”And it's not just physical harm.Suffering from PTSDThe sights and sounds of fireworks can have triggering effect in veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).“We do not have any specific activities or programs related to fireworks,” said Paula McCarl, public affairs officer with the Butler VA Healthcare System. “However, in our support groups (PTSD and Peer to Peer), the topic does come up and is discussed within the group.“Veterans must be enrolled and receiving care through the Butler VA and referred to participate in the support groups.”There are apps that can be downloaded to mobile devices to help with stressful situations at the following link: www.bit.ly/PTSDNatCenter.“Additionally, we do sit with our Community Living Center veterans who have specific PTSD during times of known fireworks or similar loud celebrations,” McCarl said.Not funFireworks displays are not fun for some pets either.The holiday can be traumatic for four-legged family members. Pets — especially dogs — can have a phobic reaction to fireworks and other loud sights and sounds. Dogs have been known to dig under or jump over fences, break tethers or even shatter windows in response to their fireworks fears.Many pets panic and get loose, ending up injured or in shelters, so it's best to prevent such potential situations in the first place.“It's fairly simple to make your home a tranquil place for your pets on July Fourth,” said Erin Katribe, veterinarian and medical director of Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters by 2025.“The last thing you want is an emergency over a holiday, when many veterinary clinics are closed or open only for limited hours, ” Katribe said.Treat anxietyFor example, if you know your pets get severely anxious, plan ahead by discussing pharmaceutical options with your veterinarian. Several medications to treat anxiety in pets are available.“It's important to do this based on your pet's weight, age and health issues, so make sure to get the proper prescription and dosage from your veterinarian,” Katribe said. “Milder anxiety can be helped with supplements, such as those containing tryptophan, or a Thundershirt which swaddles your pet and comforts them.”Pet first-aid kits can help treat minor injuries such as scrapes or cuts at home, according to Katribe.Katribe suggested bringing all pets indoors whenever neighborhood fireworks displays are likely.Secure pets in a room, close the widows, draw the curtains and play loud music or turn on the television to drown out the frightening sounds.Keep pets away from lit fireworks at all times, including those in your own backyard, as animals will chase after the bright moving objects and are at risk to be burned or blinded in the process.Many fireworks also contain substances that are toxic if ingested, so be sure to keep unlit fireworks out of reach. Ensure that pets are wearing current identification tags, and make sure your current contact info is recorded with the vet clinic or shelter that implanted the microchip.Have a plan in place in case your pet does go missing that includes calling and visiting the local shelter and posting information about your missing pet on platforms such as Nextdoor and Facebook.
