Hand injuries common during July 4 weekend, according to MU doctor

By Grace Pankey 

The Department of Public Safety says more than 300 people statewide went to the hospital for firework-related injuries last year.

Dr. Daniel London -- a hand and microvascular surgeon at University Hospital -- sees hand injuries from fireworks often this time of year.

London says firework injuries can be devastating and have long-term consequences like reduced function and loss of limbs. The most-common injury is typically second-degree burns, he says.

He says in the past 10 years, there have been around 8,000 injuries each year.

“And that number is increasing. Eighty percent of those injuries occur typically in people under the age of 40,” London said. “And over half of our patients usually are under the age of 25. And so this is predominantly impacting young people.”

To reduce the risk, London recommends enjoying fireworks shows put on by local municipalities and other groups.

A number of Mid-Missouri cities have either rescheduled or canceled their fireworks celebrations this weekend due to dry conditions and intense heat.

Other areas are still planning on including fireworks for their Independence Day celebrations.

Columbia's Fire in the Sky event will start at 6:30 p.m. at Stephens Lake Park, with fireworks beginning at 9:15 p.m. Jefferson City's Salute to America festival took to its Facebook page this week to remind residents that its fireworks display would still be happening.