Doctors at The University of Kansas Health System know what’s coming. With the 4th of July coming next week, the Burnett Burn Center at The University of Kansas Health System is gearing up for the potential influx of patients with fireworks related injuries. They’ll utilize Fast Track, a process which allows patients with a fireworks injury to have Burn Center staff immediately respond to the Emergency Department to provide more timely evaluation, wound care and discharge with scheduled follow-up if they do not require admission. While emergency doctors are prepared to accept and treat any fireworks injury at any time, the Fast Track hours are scheduled around the holiday to expedite treatment when the volume of these injuries are at the highest. The hours of operation will begin Thursday, July 3 at 7:00 a.m. and run through Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m. Last year, the hospital treated 49 patients for fireworks injuries. Thirty-six were men. The most common injuries were to the face, hands and legs from mortars, roman candles and sparklers. The number and types of injuries included The University of Kansas Health System Olathe campus, Liberty campus, Miami County Medical Center, and the health system’s Burnett Burn Center.
The Burnett Burn Center is the only nationally verified burn center for treatment of both adult and child burns.
Dr. Bryan Beaver, EMS Physician Advisor at The University of Kansas Health System, is reminding families that celebration doesn’t have to come at the cost of safety.
“Every year, we see serious trauma over the holiday—burns, eye injuries, even permanent vision loss from fireworks,” Beaver said. “And it’s not just fireworks. ATV rollovers, boating accidents, alcohol-related injuries, and grill fires all spike during this time.”