Month: July 2015

Fireworks injuries decreased this year, according to local authorities.

At the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., there were 21 total patients this Fourth of July holiday as compared to 31 in 2014, according to a KU Hospital news release.

While there were fewer patients evaluated for fireworks-related injuries, there were more traumatic amputations and more admissions, according to a KU Hospital spokesman.

Most injuries seen by KU Hospital were to the hands, and several patients had amputated fingers this year, according to KU Hospital information. The ages of those injured ranged from 4 to 67. Fifteen injuries reported at KU Hospital were to the hands, five to the face, three to the arms, three to the legs, and two, other.

The most common source for fireworks injuries this year were sparklers and mortars, according to KU Hospital. Thirty-eight percent were from mortars, 29 percent from sparklers, 24 percent from other, and 9 percent from bottle rockets.

Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan., treated a total of three fireworks injuries, one on June 29, one July 3 and one July 4, according to a spokesman. The patients were treated and released.

Gas prices nationally continue to slide following the Fourth of July weekend, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge report.

This year has seen the lowest gas prices for the Fourth of July weekend in five years, the organization reported.

The national average for regular gas is $2.77 a gallon, AAA reported today. That is 89 cents lower than last year’s gas price for the Independence Day weekend.

AAA cited all sorts of pressures working to keep gas prices lower this year, including the relatively low price of crude oil. Typically, gas prices climb in July and August because of consumer demand or weather incidents such as hurricanes on the East Coast.

This year, the current Greek financial crisis is influencing world markets, weakening the Euro and strengthening the value of the U.S. dollar. This may make crude oil relatively more expensive for other currencies, lowering demand and lowering the price in the United States, according to AAA.

AAA reported the Kansas current regular gas price average is $2.58, compared to $3.51 a year ago. The Kansas City, Kan., regular gas price average is $2.65, compared to $3.60 a year ago. There has been only a difference of about two cents in the past month in this average, according to AAA figures.

A few of today’s regular gas prices were $2.57 at 77th and Leavenworth Road; and $2.65 at 77th and Parallel Parkway. On Sunday, gas was $2.59 at 59th and Leavenworth Road.