Republished from June 30.

For most people, Fourth of July means barbecues, flags and fireworks. For members of the medical community, it can also mean burns, facial injuries and amputations.

"I can share war stories because these are war-like injuries," said Dr. Raymond Jarris Jr., an emergency medical physician at Swedish Medical Center in Ballard.

He said fireworks that are not handled properly and with care can result in destroyed hands and faces, amputated tissue, injuries from flying debris, burns, loss of an eye, loss of hearing and tattooing, which occurs when powder or chemicals from fireworks get underneath the skin and cause discoloration.

Jarris said Ballard is fortunate in that it is a very responsible community, and Swedish/Ballard does not typically see a lot of injuries from fireworks, though they do occur.

Residents should focus on prevention and safety and let the medical community be there to cover the mishaps, Jarris said.

First, Fourth of July celebrators should stick to "safe and sane" fireworks, he said. Illegal fireworks particularly cause hand injuries that may require amputation.

Minors should not handle fireworks, and firework use should always be done with adult supervision, Jarris said.

He said eye protection is a good idea, and boxes of fireworks should not be kept near anything that could provide a spark, as that could have serious unintended consequences.

Aerial fireworks should be secured firmly to their base or a board so they does not tip and launch toward bystanders, Jarris said.

Finally, if a firework is lighted but does not discharge properly, it should not be handled immediately, as there is a chance it could still ignite, he said.

The Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department have issued a notice that there are no legal fireworks in the city. Firework offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine.

"Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them," according to the notice. "Every year the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks-related fires and injuries. Each and every one of these incidents could have been prevented."

The notice asks residents to call 911 for any fire-works related fires or injuries. Residents who wish to report nonemergency fireworks violations should call 206.625.5011.