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Officials Warn Public About Dangers Of Fireworks

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Doctors say it is inevitable that people are going to end up in the hospital with fireworks injuries. However, they also say the injuries can be prevented.

Members of the Allegheny County Bomb Squad set off fireworks inside various fruits at UPMC Mercy Hospital to demonstrate how powerful fireworks can be.

"I lit what I thought was a candle and it blew up and it blew my hand off. All my fingers and most of my thumb," Coleen Gedid said. "It's horrendous pain. It's horrible and I'm having mental issues too. At first I realized my fingers were gone, but now I'm starting to really realize it and I cry at the drop of a hat."

Medical director of UPMC Burn Services said none of these accidents have to happen.

"All of them can be prevented so we don't recommend any consumer firework usage. Nothing should be considered safe. We see loss of vision, facial lacerations, cuts to the face, burns to the face, hand amputations, forearm amputations," Dr. Jenny Ziembicki said.

Last year, more than 9,000 people were injured by fireworks with most of them being children between the ages of 10 to 14. A small percentage of those cases were fatal.

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