ROSEMONT, Ill., June 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fourth-of-July fireworks always draw a crowd, but those beautiful bursts of color can lead to catastrophic injuries if not used with care. This upcoming holiday, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) advises Americans to enjoy the spectacular celebrations but urges adults and children to exercise extreme caution by leaving fireworks to the professionals.
Advertisement
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
"Fireworks present substantial risks when used improperly," said Nirmal C. Tejwani, MD, orthopaedic surgeon in New York City specializing in trauma and spokesperson for the AAOS. "If fireworks misfire or explode prematurely, the extreme amount of force can tear or destroy tissue, including bones and nerves, causing permanent burns and long-term damage to extremities."
Advertisement
In an effort to reduce the number and severity of firework-related injuries treated by orthopaedic surgeons, the AAOS recommends the following safety guidelines for trained adults who choose to use fireworks:
For other injury prevention tips, visit www.orthoinfo.org or AAOS on facebook.com/aaos1 and twitter.com/aaos1.
-- More than 18,800 fireworks-related injuries were treated in hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and emergency rooms in 2009. Children under 18 accounted for approximately 9,000 of those injuries.
SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
