MountainView Regional Medical Center encourages Doña Ana County to prioritize safety during Fourth of July celebrations
7/2/2024
LAS CRUCES, NM – As Independence Day approaches, MountainView Regional Medical Center emphasizes the importance of fireworks safety to prevent injuries and avoid a trip to the emergency department. While fireworks have been an integral part of Fourth of July festivities since 1777, it has not been without risk.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks-related incidents have led to a significant number of injuries and fatalities. In fact, in 2022, there were 11 reported deaths and over 10,000 injuries treated in emergency departments due to misuse, malfunction or tip-overs.
While the majority of incidents were due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade or homemade fireworks or explosives, less powerful fireworks like firecrackers and sparklers can also cause significant damage. The National Council on Fireworks Safety research shows more than half of sparkler-related injuries happen to children under the age of 14. While seemingly a harmless way to celebrate, sparklers can reach temperatures exceeding 2,000°F — hot enough to melt some metals.
“If sparklers can melt metals, imagine the severity of the third-degree burns they can cause to hands,” said Dr. Kristopher Crawford, emergency medicine physician at MountainView. “Even with adult supervision, there is no safe way for a child to handle a sparkler.”
The most common injuries seen in emergency departments are burns — accounting for 38 percent of all fireworks-related injuries — but it is important to remember that fireworks injuries can range from minor cuts and bruises to amputation or blindness. The areas most susceptible to injury are hands and fingers, legs, head, face, ears and eyes.
Each year, MountainView’s ER sees one or more injuries caused by fireworks around the Fourth of July and other holidays. If you or a loved one does get injured, head to the nearest ER if a burn is larger than the size of a palm or if there are any key indicators of infection such as redness, swelling, or drainage.
Doña Ana County residents who want to play it safe and enjoy the fireworks from a distance, can attend the City of Las Cruces’ Fourth of July Celebration Concert and Fireworks. The event will take place at Pat and Lou Sisbarro Community Park, 3205 Arrowhead Drive, on New Mexico State University Campus. The concert begins at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks around 9:45 p.m.
Sources:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
National Council on Fireworks Safety
National Institute for Health
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