Hendersonville Medical Center Physician Advises Caution with Fireworks

June 30, 2009 – Fourth-of-July fireworks are as much a part of Americana as hot dogs and apple pie, but those beautiful bursts of color can lead to disastrous injuries if not used with caution. This Independence Day, a Hendersonville physician advises locals to enjoy the holiday celebrations but urges adults and children to enjoy the show with care by leaving fireworks to the professionals.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 15,000 fireworks-related injuries were treated in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and emergency rooms last year. Children under 18 accounted for over half of those injuries. The total cost for medical expenses, legal expenses, work loss, and pain and suffering due to fireworks injuries equaled more than $5.4 million.

“Fireworks can be used safely by trained adults, but illegal firecrackers or ones that are used improperly present significant risks," said Duane E. Harrison, MD, physician on staff in the emergency room at Hendersonville Medical Center. "If fireworks misfire or explode ahead of time, the extreme amount of force can tear or destroy tissue, including bones and nerves, and potentially cause permanent damage."

In an effort to reduce the number and severity of firework-related injuries, it’s best to follow these safety guidelines:

Check with your local police department to determine if fireworks can be discharged legally in your area. If so, determine which types are legal.
Never buy illegal fireworks. Their quality cannot be assured.
Only adults should light fireworks.
Never hold lighted fireworks.
Never allow young children to play with or go near fireworks, including sparklers. They seem harmless but sparklers can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees.
Never play with fireworks if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“We want you to enjoy the holiday with friends and family,” Dr. Harrison added. “Not with us in the ER.”

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of providing quality healthcare to its community in 2009, Hendersonville Medical Center is a 110-bed community-based medical center with comprehensive medical and surgical programs including Obstetrics, Cardiology, Orthopaedics and other services. An affiliate of TriStar Health System, Hendersonville Medical Center remains the only Accredited Chest Pain Center in Sumner County, increasing the likelihood of survival in a cardiac emergency by 37 percent. For more information about the services offered and health plans accepted by Hendersonville Medical Center or TriStar Health System, or to request a tour of Hendersonville Medical Center, call TriStar MedLine at 342-1919 or visit the website at TriStarHealth.com and choose Hendersonville Medical Center.