ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WWJ) -- A new study from the University of Michigan says there has been a sharp rise in fireworks injuries over the last decade since the state of Michigan relaxed its fireworks laws.
In 2012 the state changed laws, allowing previously banned types of fireworks, including mortars, which are the kind seen at large public fireworks displays, shot out of a tube.
In the six years leading up to that change, the Michigan Medical health system saw 81 people come in for fireworks-related injuries, of which about 20 were from airborne fireworks.
In the first six years after the loosened fireworks laws went into effect, that number skyrocketed to 160, according to the study led by U of M orthopedic hand surgeon Kevin Chung.
Roughly half of those injuries were caused by those exact airborne fireworks, according to the study.
A mortar-style firework accident was what led to the death of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks in Novi over the holiday weekend.
Chung says the study in particular was to understand the impact the new laws have had. And frankly, they were surprised to see that numbers doubled.
Chung says he was on-call for four days around Independence Day this summer, and was in the operating room "almost around the clock."
One of the biggest reasons, he thinks, for the spike in fireworks-related injuries is simply a lack of education on fireworks safety.
"Several of my patients from July 4 are now thinking about why they should not be doing what they're doing," Chung told WWJ. "One of the first things they tell me is 'I cannot believe I did that.' Well the reason they did it is because they don't know about it."
"They did it and instantaneously, they now have an arm that does not work," he said.
Dr. Chung says the law was likely good-intentioned, to help drive local revenue -- but he says there needs to be a serious conversation about firework safety in Lansing and beyond.
Even after the researchers took into account the increase in all types of emergency care at Michigan Medicine during the study period, the jump in fireworks-related injuries still held. More than 80% of the patients arrived at U-M in June or July, with 62% coming within the two weeks surrounding July 4. Forty percent were under age 18.
