A woman in Indiana is sending out a public safety announcement after suffering a terrifying injury when a firework exploded in her hand.
Kristi Anema was celebrating Labor Day with her family in Westfield when she was handed a pre-loaded firework, Fox News reports. Instead of shooting out of the mortar, the firework malfunctioned and blew up in her hand.
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"I actually remember quite a bit," Anema told the outlet. "My hand blew basically in half. All I saw was my wrist bone and I knew something was wrong."
After the horrifying accident, the woman’s family called 911 and she was rushed to the hospital. Anema says the injury was so severe, doctors considered amputation.
"Most people don’t realize how severe the injury really is until they see the pics," the mother said. Luckily, doctors were able to save her hand, along with all of her fingers.
Right before being handed the firework, Anema said her son asked if it was safe to shoot off. She remembers telling him that everything was going to be OK.
"I know this was a dumb decision, the dumbest decision I’ve ever made," she said. "It was stupid and I can’t change it. I want people to know how much your life can change in the blink of a moment. My injury could have been prevented."
According to the 2020 fireworks annual report from the Consumer Products Safety Commission, there was an increase in fireworks related injuries from approximately 3.1 per 100,000 individuals in the U.S. two years ago to 4.7 per 100,000 people last year. The commission estimates 15,600 injuries related to fireworks occurred in 2020, along with 18 deaths.
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"Leave the big powerful fireworks to the professionals," Anema warned. "They’re essentially bombs. I never thought this could happen. I’ve played with fireworks since childhood. I was too relaxed because I grew up with them."
She is now urging parents to be careful.
"We don’t realize how much children are watching and learning."
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