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From Illinois to Utah: Firework mishaps claim lives and injure dozens this July 4th
By Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY,
8 hours ago
A man who law enforcement said lit a large firework and placed it on his head died in South Carolina Thursday night, and in Alabama, a pyrotechnician was taken by medical helicopter to a hospital after a shell "unexpectedly detonated" during a slated firework celebration, injuring him and canceling the city's show.
Here's roundup of major pyrotechnics-related injuries reported across the nation as of early Friday:
Fireworks-related deaths
In Illinois, a 34-year-old man died after handling fireworks on Chicago's Northwest Side about 10 p.m. Thursday. The Chicago Police Department told USA TODAY officers responded to the scene and found the victim who suffered trauma to the body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Also in Illinois, a 25-year-old man died in a fireworks mishap early Friday morning in LaSalle, the Journal Star , part of the USA TODAY Network reported. The LaSalle County Sheriff's Office reported the incident involved illegal fireworks and the injured man was taken to a hospital where he later died.
In South Carolina, a 41-year-old man died after suffering injuries while using fireworks, according to Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office incident report obtained by USA TODAY. Witnesses, deputies wrote in the report, said the man ignited a large firework device, set it on his head and it exploded, killing him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In Alabama, Huntsville Emergency Medical Emergency Services Inc. spokesperson Don Webster told USA TODAY a man was injured just after midnight Friday after a fireworks accident in Madison County. Webster said the 20-year-old man from Harvest, who suffered trauma to the upper torso, was taken to Huntsville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In Alabama, the city of Jacksonville canceled its fireworks show after a shell unexpectedly detonated and injured a technician Thursday night, sending him to a hospital by helicopter. On Friday, city officials said the technician had been released and was expected to recover.
In Colorado, a man lost most of his hand on Wednesday night when a firework he held blew up in his hand, the Colorado Springs Fire Department said in a report on its Facebook page. The incident happened in the Cheyenne Mountain area, southwest of Colorado Springs, the CSFD said.
In Oklahoma, a 10-year-old boy from the Oklahoma City area was taken to a hospital to be treated for burns from a fireworks explosion, KFOR-TV reported . A man told the outlet his grandson bought four fireworks products and two malfunctioned, one of which injured the boy.
Several people including some children were injured watching fireworks at a private gathering in Rexburg, Idaho, EastIdahoNews.com reported. "Several individuals were taken to Madison Memorial Hospital and two juveniles were taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls,” Assistant Police Chief Gary Hagen told the news outlet. None of the injuries were life-threatening; police are still investigating the cause.
To safely use fireworks, the National Safety Council recommends watching them at public displays conducted by professionals and not using them at home.
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