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 Friday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. and run through Wednesday, July 5. Last year, the hospital treated 29 patients for fireworks injuries. Most of them were men in their early 20’s, the most common injuries were to the hands and face from mortars and sparklers.
NOTE: The University of Kansas Health System will provide daily written updates by mid-afternoon outlining the numbers and types of fireworks injuries. The daily update will begin Saturday, July 1.
In the video, Dr. Dhaval Bhavsar, a plastic surgeon and co-medical director of the Burnett Burn Center, talks about Fast Track and what kind of staffing is needed to make it work. He also discusses the typical patient and most common injuries and the best ways to prevent the injures. He also describes the hospital’s biggest challenge in treating these patients.
The video also includes a demonstration by the Olathe Fire Department of the damage that can be caused by sparklers and mortars.