Physicians Coalition against Expansion of Fireworks Laws in Georgia opposes HB 110

Physicians Coalition against Expansion of Fireworks Laws in Georgia

On behalf of the undersigned medical associations in Georgia, representing over 10,400 physicians in our state, respectfully ask you to oppose HB 110, a bill that would dramatically liberalize Georgia’s current fireworks laws. While some try to minimize the dangers of the full range of fireworks, the fact remains they pose considerable risk of injury to both children and adolescents, as well as adults.

Georgia currently has a sound, conservative fireworks law which appropriately limits the types of fireworks that can be sold in our state. This law has served to minimize the injury and harm that the more dangerous fireworks which this bill would allow, can do to our children and adult citizens.

Each year in the U.S. nearly 10,000 people are treated in emergency rooms due to fireworks injuries; and more than one-quarter of those injured are children younger than 15. Twenty-one percent (21%) of fireworks injuries involve the eyes, resulting in permanent blindness in one out of every three victims. A 2002 study notes that nearly 4,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries. In addition to the eyes, the hands (40%), and face (20%) are the body parts most often injured. Beyond medical and related costs directly and indirectly attributable to fireworks injuries, fireworks cause significant property damage. One study concluded that “states that ban most consumer fireworks have significantly lower rates of fireworks-related injuries and fires.” Moreover, a recent CDC study on this topic showed that 15% of fireworks injuries required hospitalization or transfer for further care. This is substantially higher than those hospitalization/transfer rates for all other unintentional injuries, which was about 7% in 2012. This means that these fireworks injuries are more severe or complex than other unintentional injuries normally treated in the ER.

As physicians, we hold the health and safety of our patients—the citizens of Georgia–as our highest obligation. Georgia’s current fireworks law is conservative in what is permitted and thus we do not experience high levels of injuries from them to our citizens. However, liberalizing Georgia’s current fireworks law will result in one sure thing. And that is more people—children, adolescents, and even adults—will be injured by these dangerous fireworks, whether it is burns or injuries to their face, eyes or hands. The data is clear on that. As it stands now, Georgia is an island of relative safety in the Southeast with regard to these types of injuries. In our view, that standard ought to be appreciated and protected–not eroded–as HB 110 would do. Thank you.

American Academy of Pediatrics-Georgia Chapter
American College of Physicians-Georgia Chapter (Internal Medicine)
Georgia Academy of Family Physicians
Georgia College of Emergency Physicians
Georgia Society of Ophthalmology
Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association