Fireworks injuries for 2008

The 2008 report for fireworks related incidents is complete and for the second straight year, reported fireworks injuries have declined in Indiana.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported 141 fireworks-related injuries, including one death; that’s down 10 percent from last year.

The State is happy with the decline, but is concerned that it may be partly related to incomplete reporting. There is no universal mechanism for reporting and hospital coding only lists the injury and doesn’t include the cause of the injury.

More than 60 percent of the injuries were burns, especially to the fingers and hands and injuries to the eyes were also fairly common. Almost half of the total injuries involved children and adolescents.

The 2008 Fireworks-Related Injuries Report also revealed:

• One out of every four reported injuries involved the eyes, with 75.7 percent of those with eye injuries not using any method of eye protection.


• Ninety percent of those seeking treatment for their injuries were evaluated and released to go home; 9.2 percent were admitted to the hospital or transferred to another hospital.


• Firecrackers, rockets, aerial devices and sparklers were associated with 65.3 percent of all reported injuries.


• Fireworks use on private property accounted for almost 87 percent of reported injuries.

With our County selling fireworks, it is important to watch our kids closely and maintain safety at all times to prevent some serious problems.