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FIREWORKS INJURIES LEAD TO AMPUTATIONS AND VISION LOSS
Fireworks & Costs
CONCORD, MA – A recent study reports that in 2000, out of 98
fireworks-related injuries serious enough to require hospital care, half
were admitted around the 4th of July.
Researchers from Caro Research Institute in Concord, MA and The University
of Connecticut Medical School in Farmington, CT reported that 40% of those
with serious injuries were children under age 15 years. One third of those
admitted required an amputation of an arm, finger or thumb. On average, the
cost of per stay for
those hospitalized due to a fireworks-related injury was $15,600.
"Every year around the summer holidays, there are stories about people,
frequently children, who suffer injuries from fireworks, explained Judith
O'Brien, Director of Cost Research at Caro Research Institute. “The results
of this study highlight the need for increased awareness of the potentially
serious consequences of using fireworks.”
Data from 59 hospitals in seven states (AZ, CA, FL, MA, MD, WA, WI)
reporting fireworks-related injuries in 2000 were examined. Males were
responsible for 90% of the hospital admissions for fireworks-related
injuries analyzed. Children under 15 years represented 40% of admissions
(age range: 5 to 75 years). The majority (78%) were treated in the Emergency
Department prior to admission. Half of all admissions occurred in June and
July. No one died during the hospital stay, but 40% required Special Care
Unit treatment (e.g., ICU, burn unit). Most (41%) of the injuries involved a
fracture or wound to an extremity, a serious burn (25%), an eye (17%) or
head (5%) injury.
About one-third required an amputation of a finger, thumb
or lower arm. On average, these patients were hospitalized 4 days at a cost
of $15,600 (range: $900 - $235,200) per stay. The total hospital cost for
all fireworks-related injuries in this study was estimated at roughly $1.4
million (2003 US$). This analysis illustrates the health and economic
consequences of fireworks-related injuries and brings attention to the need
for increased public awareness, particularly prior to the 4th of July
holiday, of the potential hazards of using fireworks.
According to the 2001 Fireworks Annual Report released by the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission in 2002, about 9,500 injuries related to fireworks
devises were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2001. While
most of these injuries were treated and released from the emergency
department, 12% required hospitalization. [Ref: Greene MA and Race PM. 2001
Fireworks Annual Report. Fireworks-Related Death, Emergency Department
Treated Injuries, and Enforcement Activities During 2001. U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission, June 2002.]“
The findings of our research show that serious injuries can result from the
use of fireworks and that they are not only costly in terms of health care
dollars, but those injured can pay a personal price for years to come, as
the consequences of some of these injuries, such as loss of vision, are
potentially life-altering,” added O’Brien. “Most admissions occur around the
4th of July so as we near this holiday, parents and others need to be
reminded of the dangers and consequences of using fireworks."
Caro Research is an independent consulting firm specializing in
pharmacoeconomics, epidemiology and technology assessment internationally.
No external funding was received for this study.
This study and others were presented at the International Society for
Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) 9th Annual International
Meeting held in Arlington, Virginia.
ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate
pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society
allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.
For more information:
www.ispor.org
www.caroresearch.com
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