Thursday, July 02, 2009
Children's hospital warns parents against purchasing fireworks
Parents should not purchase consumer fireworks for use by or near children, experts from the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH, advise.
A 2006 study conducted at the hospital's Center for Injury Research and Policy found that from 1990 to 2003, 85,000 children age 19 and younger were treated for fireworks-related injuries in emergency rooms. Burns were the most common injury, although vision and hearing loss are other potential types of injury, according to a press release.
The hospital noted in the release that 28 percent of fireworks-related injuries were attributable to novelty fireworks, such as sparklers or fountains.
CIRP is a member of the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, which is coordinated by the Quincy, MA-based National Fire Protection Association.