Journal article
Firework injuries remain high in years after legalisation: its impact on children
Injury prevention, Vol.28(6), pp.553-559
08/03/2022
DOI: 10.1136/ip-2022-044616
PMCID: PMC9691548
PMID: 35922137
Abstract
PurposeWe evaluated the impact of Senate Bill 489 passed in May 2017, allowing the sale and use of fireworks in Iowa 1 June to 8 July and 10 December to 3 January, on hospital presentations for firework injuries in the state. To identify the public health implications of this law, we conducted a detailed subanalysis of hospital presentations to the two level I trauma centres.MethodsHospital presentations for firework injuries from 1 June 2014 to 31 July 2019 were identified using the Iowa Hospital Admission database and registries and medical records of Iowa’s two level 1 trauma centres. Trauma centres’ data were reviewed to obtain demographics, injury information and hospital course. Prefirework and postfirework legalisation state data were compared using negative binomial regression analysis. Trauma centre data detailing injuries were compared using χ2 and Mann-Whitney U tests as appropriate.ResultsEmergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions for firework injuries increased in Iowa post-legalisation (B-estimate=0.598±0.073, p<0.001 and B-estimate=0.612±0.322, p=0.058, respectively). ED visits increased postlegalisation in July (73.6% vs 64.5%; p=0.008), reflecting an increase in paediatric admissions (81.8% vs 62.5%; p=0.006). Trauma centres’ data showed similar trends. The most common injury site across both study periods was the hands (48.5%), followed by the eyes (34.3%) and face (28.3%). Amputations increased from 0 prelegalisation to 16.2% postlegalisation.ConclusionFirework legalisation led to an increase in the number of admissions and more severe injuries.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Firework injuries remain high in years after legalisation: its impact on children
- Creators
- Colette Galet - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineIsaac Slagel - University of IowaAdam Froehlich - Injury Prevention Research Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAMorgan Bobb - The University of Iowa Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USAMichele Lilienthal - Department of Surgery, The University of Iowa Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USAElizabeth Fuchsen - UnityPoint HealthKarisa K Harland - Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USACarlos A Pelaez - UnityPoint HealthDionne A Skeete - University of IowaMichael E Takacs - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Injury prevention, Vol.28(6), pp.553-559
- DOI
- 10.1136/ip-2022-044616
- PMID
- 35922137
- PMCID
- PMC9691548
- NLM abbreviation
- Inj Prev
- ISSN
- 1353-8047
- eISSN
- 1475-5785
- Publisher
- BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
- Grant note
- UL1TR002537 / National Institutes of Health, National Center For Advancing Translational Sciences 1227892 / Iowa Department of Public Safety, State Fire Marshal
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/03/2022
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Emergency Medicine; Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center; University of Iowa Health Care; Law Faculty
- Record Identifier
- 9984297142702771
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