A Cautionary Message from a Certified Hand Therapist
As we prepare to celebrate with loved ones, food, and fireworks, I want to offer some words of caution about the devastating impact fireworks can have, particularly on our hands.
As an Occupational Therapist for over 30 years and working in hand therapy rehabilitation for the past 25, some of the most devastating, life changing injuries I have treated were due to accidents with power tools or fireworks. Today’s post has a more serious tone because this post is not about empowering recovery or teaching adaptations for daily living. Today, I write about preventing life-changing mistakes to prevent you from needing a hand therapist.
Every year, thousands of individuals suffer severe hand injuries due to fireworks mishandling. These injuries can include traumatic amputations, burns, tendon and nerve damage, and fractures that may change a person’s life in an instant.
I would be so happy if I never again treated a client who had the unfortunate experience of a 4th of July celebration gone wrong.
All of the above injuries involve OT CHT care to navigate the complex journey of hand injury recovery after surgery or emergency care. A hand therapist’s role is critical in:
- Restoring lost range of motion and strength to allow performance of daily activities.
- Providing adaptive equipment or methods for task performance when hands are not able to function well.
- Rebuilding sensory awareness and function to allow the hands to be able to hold and grasp items used in daily life.
- Guiding scar management and edema reduction to improve use of the hands.
- Helping clients return to meaningful daily activities, work, and hobbies, even if that means that changes to those tasks need to be made.
Recovery from a fireworks-related hand injury is a long, emotionally and physically demanding process. It often requires multiple surgeries with months of guided rehabilitation. Rehab is a team approach involving surgeons, therapists, and the support of loved ones. With personalized care and dedication, many individuals can regain significant function, but prevention is always the best medicine. My clients frequently express their regrets and wish to turn back time to change events but once an accident happens, we can only look forward and face the challenges.
This 4th of July, protect your hands, and your future. Leave fireworks to the professionals, and remind those around you to do the same.
Your hands are powerful tools. Let’s keep them safe.
Flourish Recovery & Wellness 