State officials said there were at least 133 injuries in Kansas caused by fireworks during the Independence Day holiday week.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said the injuries varied in severity. They were reported by more than 80 percent of the state’s hospital emergency departments from July 1-7.
Thirty-eight injuries were reported in Sedgwick County, more than double any other county.
“The fun that we can have with fireworks should not outweigh the safety precautions that must be observed to avoid injuries,” Greg Lakin, KDHE’s chief medical officer, said in a news release Tuesday.
The age range with the highest number of injuries (55) was 5 to 17 years old. More than 60 percent of the injuries involved men.
Tom Shine is director of news and public affairs at KMUW. Follow him@thomaspshine.