Fireworks play a significant role in American summer festivities, yet the excitement of using them at home is frequently marred by injuries and property damage. Children are particularly vulnerable, comprising over one-third of emergency room visits for fireworks-related injuries. According to recent data, children aged 5 to 9 are more than twice as likely to sustain injuries compared to other age groups.
Gina Duchossois, an injury prevention expert with the Safe Kids Southeastern Pennsylvania coalition at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, advises, “If you want to experience the spectacle of fireworks with your family, attend a public fireworks display. Even if fireworks are legal to purchase and use in your community, they are not safe around children.”
In 2023, emergency rooms handled 9,700 fireworks injuries, with 74% occurring around the July Fourth holiday. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has identified a 25% increase in fireworks-related injuries between 2006 and 2021.
Duchossois also highlighted the dangers associated with sparklers, stating, “Some people treat sparklers much too casually. They allow children to play with them as if they were toys. But sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to melt some metals. The sparks can cause burns and eye injuries, and touching a lit sparkler to skin can result in a serious burn.” In 2021, sparklers were linked to approximately 1,100 emergency room injuries. The CPSC reported a fatal incident involving an 8-year-old injured by an illegal firework.
Duchossois advises that if older children use sparklers, they should only do so under strict adult supervision and without any horseplay.
For those choosing to use fireworks at home, several safety measures are recommended:
– Confirm the legality of fireworks in your area before purchase or use.
– Keep a water bucket or hose nearby for emergencies.
– Light fireworks singly on a safe surface, then retreat quickly.
– Avoid placing any body part over a lit firework.
– Do not attempt to relight malfunctioning fireworks.
– Refrain from using fireworks in glass or metal containers and avoid aiming them at others.
– Extinguish fireworks with water after use before discarding.
– Do not use fireworks under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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