According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 8,000 Americans end up in the hospital annually this time of year due to a fireworks-related accident. According to the commission, the majority of the injuries are to the hands and head.
Of the injuries, eight were fatal in 2017. Children younger than 15 years of age were responsible for 36 percent of the firework-related hospital visits in 2017.
According to a June 2018 report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the majority of the injuries were due to misuse or malfunctions of fireworks.
“CPSC works year round to help prevent deaths and injuries from fireworks,” said Ann Marie Buerkle, CPSC acting chairman. “Beyond CPSC’s efforts, we want to make sure everyone takes simple safety steps to celebrate safely with their family and friends. We work with the fireworks industry, monitor incoming fireworks shipments at the ports and enforce federal fireworks safety regulations, so that all Americans have a safe Fourth of July.”
Even though sparklers are legal in many jurisdictions, they accounted for 14 percent of all firework injuries in 2017. By comparison, bottle rockets accounted for 3 percent of injuries, and firecrackers were blamed for 10 percent of injuries.
Homemade and altered fireworks accounted for 3 percent of firework injuries.
Nearly 39 percent of firework-related injuries came from unspecified fireworks.
With a few simple precautions, you can stay safe this July 4. Here are 10 tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission to help you avoid the emergency room.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
- Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
- Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
The National Fire Protection Association has published a video showing the dangers of consumer fireworks.
Also, keep in mind different jurisdictions have varying laws involving fireworks.
