Kauaʻi surgeon warns about firework dangers

During the weeks around Fourth of July, Kauaʻi orthopedic surgeon Alyssa Carnegie said emergency rooms see patients with fireworks-related injuries that could be prevented.

It’s common sense, but Carnegie reminds people: “Do not light a firework while you’re holding it.”

Carnegie, who specializes in complex cases such as hand trauma, nerve injury and tendon repair reconstruction at the Wilcox Bone & Joint Center in Līhuʻe, also said firework injuries occur quickly, damaging the hands, including finger amputations.

She said people should not make “homemade” fireworks, which greatly increase the risk of a severe or even life-threatening injuries.

Carnegie has treated patients who have lost fingers and even their entire hand when a homemade firework exploded.

Fireworks can also cause serious injuries to your face and eyes. Sparklers can burn at about 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt metal.

The Kauai Police Department reiterated that proper precautions must be taken when enjoying pyrotechnics to prevent a tragedy and enjoy the festivities.

“We want everyone to enjoy the holiday, but safety must come first. Illegal fireworks not only break the law, they put lives, homes, and our environment at risk,” Assistant Chief Darren Rose said.

Rose said the community should report unsafe fireworks behavior, so that everyone is safe, and to use only legal fireworks on private property between 1 and 9 p.m.

“Light one firecracker at a time,” Carnegie said. “Read all the cautionary labels and descriptions. Often we like to enjoy some alcoholic beverage during holiday celebrations; however, alcohol can impair judgment and slow reaction time.”

On Monday, in response to the tragic fireworks explosion that killed six people and injured others on O’ahu on New Year’s Eve, Governor Josh Green, MD, signed a package of new laws in Hawaiʻi, including the use of drones over public property for investigation of illegal fireworks.

There will be no drones used for this purpose on the Garden Isle this Fourth of July holiday, although they could be used in the future.

House Bill 1483 now imposes larger fines for repeat fireworks offenders, as well as in cases where a fatality occurs or a serious injury results. Officers will be enforcing the new laws this weekend.