Bakersfield hand surgeon shares tips on how to prevent injuries from fireworks

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Independence Day is Thursday and fireworks have already began to go off in neighborhoods around Bakersfield.

Board Certified hand and plastic surgeon at Kern Medical Dr. David Bowen joined 17 News at Noon to discuss the dangers of playing with mortar-style fireworks.

According to Dr. Bowen, firework related injuries have gotten worse over the years. “Fireworks we’re seeing now are more powerful, more dangerous. And the injuries resulting from them are similarly devastating.”

A majority of people use their dominant hand when they light up fireworks, so they end up losing their dominant hand in the process.

Many, if not all, of the injuries Dr. Bowen sees in the E.R. equate to injuries often seen in war. “Loss of digits, loss of the entire hand sometimes into the forearm.”

If you plan on purchasing safe and sane or illegal fireworks this Independence Day, be sure to keep a bucket of water nearby and if you have a dud firework, don’t try to re-light it. It can prevent a life-altering injury.

Watch the full interview in the video player above for more safety tips.

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