KANSAS CITY, KAN -
Every year, thousands of Fourth of July revelers across the country are injured by fireworks. But despite the risk people still light off their own fireworks displays, and that has emergency room doctors asking people to leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals this year.
"You are having a wonderful party, had a couple of drinks, everybody's relaxed having fun, the kids are running around with the sparklers and you start off fireworks, it is a recipe for a lot of tragedy," said Dr. Lorraine Duncan, an emergency room physician at Centerpoint Medical Center.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, seven people were killed and 7,000 others injured by fireworks in 2008. Firecrackers, sparklers and bottle rockets are the top three culprits when it comes to injuries of hands, fingers, eyes and legs.
Ryan and Sumerlyn Matt of Independence say that they plan to set off some fireworks, but they say that safety is a priority.
"We live in a cul-de-sac, so we sit in the driveway and he and a couple of his friends set them off and we just sit and watch," said Sumerlyn.
"Light them and stand way back, if they don't go off pour water over them and put them in a trash can," said Ryan.
Fireworks are illegal across many parts of the metro, including Gladstone, where city official Richard King says that every year the fireworks injuries continue.
"It seems each year we run to a call where someone has been injured by a firework that has gone off in their hand, too close to their face," said King. "We've had house fires, we've had grass fires, all because of fireworks."
Dr. Duncan says that it's best to leave the fireworks to the experts and check out a city display.
"It's not just the holiday that's ruined," said Dr. Duncan. "It can change your life."
Click here for more fireworks safety tips.
"You are having a wonderful party, had a couple of drinks, everybody's relaxed having fun, the kids are running around with the sparklers and you start off fireworks, it is a recipe for a lot of tragedy," said Dr. Lorraine Duncan, an emergency room physician at Centerpoint Medical Center.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, seven people were killed and 7,000 others injured by fireworks in 2008. Firecrackers, sparklers and bottle rockets are the top three culprits when it comes to injuries of hands, fingers, eyes and legs.
Ryan and Sumerlyn Matt of Independence say that they plan to set off some fireworks, but they say that safety is a priority.
"We live in a cul-de-sac, so we sit in the driveway and he and a couple of his friends set them off and we just sit and watch," said Sumerlyn.
"Light them and stand way back, if they don't go off pour water over them and put them in a trash can," said Ryan.
Fireworks are illegal across many parts of the metro, including Gladstone, where city official Richard King says that every year the fireworks injuries continue.
"It seems each year we run to a call where someone has been injured by a firework that has gone off in their hand, too close to their face," said King. "We've had house fires, we've had grass fires, all because of fireworks."
Dr. Duncan says that it's best to leave the fireworks to the experts and check out a city display.
"It's not just the holiday that's ruined," said Dr. Duncan. "It can change your life."
Click here for more fireworks safety tips.
