Injuries, clean-up follow July 4th celebrations in Kansas City area

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Even on July 5, fireworks take center stage.

Several public fireworks shows are scheduled for Friday night, professional displays that typically prove to be clean and safe. However, July 4 leaves injuries and cleanliness concerns for a sizable number of fireworks fans.

Kansas City Public Works crews didn’t have a restful holiday. At least one municipal park was trashed with fireworks — mostly ash and paper. Several workers with a city truck could be seen cleaning up Swope Park.

“It’s a mess,” A.J. Henderson, who lives near Swope Park, lamented.

Henderson, who said he’s personally helped clean up those messes in the past, and he gets tired of seeing litterbugs ruin his neighborhood park. FOX4 asked Kansas City’s communications office if other public parks were vandalized by fireworks parties, but no one answered our emails on Friday.

“They could use those trash cans like they use to — the barrels — but people take them. Bring the barrels. Use trash bags and clean up,” Henderson said.

Metro hospitals are also preparing for a weekend’s worth of fireworks noise, smoke and injuries. Trauma doctors complain they’re seeing the usual mid-summer influx of fireworks-related injuries. Patients needed treatment for various burns, broken bones, hand injuries and injuries to their eyes and faces.

Dr. Julia Slater, medical director at the University of Kansas Health System’s Burnett Burn Center, knows some patients procrastinate, believing their wounds aren’t bad enough to need a doctor’s care.

Slater shared this rule of thumb — any trauma-based injury that doesn’t heal within 24 hours needs professional attention.

“If you have any areas where you have blistering of your skin and it’s larger than the size of your palm, you should definitely come in to the emergency room to have that burn evaluated,” Slater said on Friday.

Emergency rooms have been in high demand all week. University of Kansas Health System ER doctors have seen 35 patients for fireworks-based needs since Wednesday. St. Luke’s Health System has treated another 14 patients in the same stretch of time. Since Thursday night, 10 patients have been treated by University Health and another two needed aid at Advent Health.

For patients who suffer fireworks burns, doctors recommend treating them with cool water, and keeping the wounds clean with antibacterial ointment.

Moreover, doctors recommend leaving fireworks shows to professionals. You can find a list of Friday night fireworks shows and other weekend activities here .

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