Your July Fourth celebration could be ruined with a serious injury and trip to the emergency room.
Fireworks related injuries continue to be high, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging consumers to either watch community fireworks displays or take steps to use consumer-grade fireworks safely.
Eleven fireworks-related deaths were reported in 2022, mostly associated with mortar-style devices, the CPSC said in a new report announced Thursday on the National Mall where the agency offered live demonstrations of fireworks dangers. Five of the deaths were caused by fireworks misuse, with victims ranging from age 11 to 43.
The report also said about 10,200 fireworks-related injuries occurred in 2022. Seventy-three percent of the injuries took place during the month surrounding the July Fourth holiday.
On illegal fireworks, about 43 percent of the fireworks the agency tested in 2022 had illegal parts that could cause severe injuries. These included fuses that didn’t comply with the law, prohibited chemicals, and pyrotechnic materials overload.
“Fireworks are beautiful to watch, but they can be deadly when mishandled or misused, or if the fireworks themselves contain illegal components,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “I urge everyone to use care around fireworks, only use fireworks labeled for consumer use, and always keep children far away from fireworks, including sparklers.”
Injuries in the month around the July Fourth holiday in 2022 included:
- Adults age 25 to 44 had about 36 percent of the injuries, and children younger than 15 years of age had 28 percent of the injuries.
- Fireworks with the highest estimated emergency department-treated injuries were firecrackers, 1,300, followed by sparklers, 600.
- The parts of the body most often injured by fireworks were: hands and fingers, 29 percent; head, face, and ears, 19 percent; legs, 19 percent; and eyes, 16 percent.
- Burns were the most frequent type of injury, with 38 percent of all emergency department-treated fireworks injuries.
Most fireworks injuries and deaths are preventable.
This CPSC video shows how quickly a life-changing, serious injury can occur by the improper use of fireworks.
The agency urges consumers to follow these safety tips:
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit – hot enough to melt some metals.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area, and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer, not professional, use.
- Never set off fireworks while using alcohol or drugs.
Best wishes for a fun and safe July Fourth celebration.
