HONOLULU (KHON2) — Minor to severe firework-related injuries were reported all across Oahu on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The American Red Cross is prepared to help at no cost.
“Is it what they need a new place to stay? Do they need new clothing? Do they just need food? What might that recovery look like? Sometimes it also means physical health or mental health. So, we want to make sure that people have those resources available to them,” stated Matthew Wells, American Red Cross Pacific Islands Regional Communications Director.
In addition to the mass casualty incident on Keaka Drive, emergency officials said a 20-year-old died from multiple traumatic injuries, including a severe arm injury from a suspected firework blast. Paramedics on scene treated the patient with advanced life support and transported him in critical condition around 11 p.m.
Shortly before 11:30 p.m., a 34-year-old man suffering from a traumatic hand injury was transported to a Honolulu Fire station where he was treated before being taken to a hospital in serious condition.
Early New Year’s Day, a 25-year-old man was taken to the hospital in serious condition after a firework explosion caused an extensive hand injury.
Shortly after 12:05 a.m., a 59-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man were taken to the hospital with minor burns to their legs. The couple who lives on Kuhia Place in Ewa said they were watching their neighbors set off fireworks when it exploded sideways. The man had shrapnel surgically removed from his leg. Neighbors in the area said the fireworks sounded louder than normal and even damaged another neighbor’s home and car window.
“This is a unique situation and that’s what we need to bear in mind, is that we need to be ready for what might happen, but there is no normal for this,” said Wells.
According to Queen’s Health Systems, staff treated nearly 40 patients with firework-related injuries since New Year’s Eve.
“What we’re doing right now is we’re gathering our own resources. We’ll respond in exactly the way that the people impacted need that response,” said Wells.