Man suffers ‘catastrophic’ injuries in Fort Worth fireworks mishap, MedStar says
A man suffered “catastrophic” injuries in a fireworks mishap in rural Fort Worth in the early morning hours of the Fourth of July, according to MedStar.
The man was flown to Parkland Memorial Hospital, MedStar spokesman Matt Zavadsky said. He was treated for severe burns and traumatic injuries.
Though he was in critical condition, Zavadsky said, he is expected to survive.
MedStar was unable to describe what led to the fireworks accident on Saturday morning, where in Fort Worth it happened or how old the man is because of patient confidentiality.
Medics responded to a “pretty remote” part of Fort Worth around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Zavadsky said. They found the man and coordinated for him to be transported to Parkland.
The incident is a reminder of the dangers associated with setting off fireworks, which are illegal in Fort Worth, Zavadsky said.
“My fear is that people are going to be doing fireworks on their own because it’s too hard to go to large public displays,” he said. “And this is an example of what can happen when you do that.”
MedStar is one of the several North Texas agencies urging people to practice caution when it comes to fireworks, especially in a year when the coronavirus has led to cities discouraging residents from attending fireworks shows.
In a graphic shared to Twitter, MedStar provided safety tips for the Fourth of July, starting with always having a water source nearby. People should also never light fireworks near dry grass, be careful of loose clothing around fireworks and be aware of the wind.
Additionally, a responsible adult should always supervise fireworks and children should never be allowed to play with them, according to tips from the National Council on Fireworks Safety on the MedStar website. People are advised to not mix drinking and fireworks.
When setting off the fireworks, people should wear safety gasses, light one firework at a time and never try to relight a “dud” that doesn’t ignite, according to the tips.
This story was originally published July 4, 2020 at 12:01 PM.
