Avoid Severe Injuries: Practice Fireworks Safety This Fourth of July

Web Administration News

Take the Quiz and Post the List

Between today and July 22, over 200 people per day will be treated in hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries and over 600 people will be treated on July 4. The Amputee Coalition urges people to handle fireworks carefully, follow instructions and ensure children are properly supervised when using fireworks this Fourth of July weekend.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC),these injuries most often involve hands, fingers, eyes and legs. They can result in hand and finger amputations, burns and even deaths. The CPSC study issued in June 2014, the most recent statistics available, highlights an increase in the number of fireworks-related deaths and injuries. Device malfunction and improper use are associated with the most injuries. In 2013, there were eight deaths and an estimated 11,400 consumers sustained injuries related to fireworks. This is an increase from 8,700 injuries in 2012.

“Every year, after-the-fact, we hear the news reports about people losing fingers and portions of their hands to firework-related accidents,” said Amputee Coalition President & CEO Susan Stout. “Fireworks are a traditional part of America’s celebration of Independence Day; we want families to have fun this Fourth of July, but that does not include a preventable trip to the hospital emergency room. Legal consumer fireworks that comply with Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations can be relatively safe, but all fireworks are hazardous and can cause injury if proper safety measures are not followed.”

Even sparklers can cause serious burn injuries, burning as hot as 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the type and contents of fuel and oxidizer used. This is more than sufficient to cause severe burns or ignite clothing.

Hand and finger injuries account for 41 percent of injuries, followed by head, face and ears (19 percent), torsos (15 percent), legs (13 percent) and eyes (12 percent).

Do you think you know all about fireworks safety? Take this quick quiz from the National Council on Fireworks Safety.

Make this a safe and fun Fourth of July.For those who will participate in the fireworks displays, following a few common-sense safety measures will help you avoid an unnecessary and potentially life-changing injury.

The CPSC has issued these tips on how to stay safe over the holiday. Please review with friends and family before igniting fireworks this holiday.

  • Make sure the fireworks you want to buy are legal in your area before buying or using them.
  • Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.
  • Always have an adult nearby to supervise fireworks activities if older children are allowed to handle devices.
  • Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper, which is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
  • 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.
  • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
  • Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • Light fireworks one at a time, then move away from them 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 the device to prevent a trash fire.
  • The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) encourages the public to report the manufacture or sale of illegal fireworks to your local law enforcement agencies or to the ATF hotline at 888/ATF-BOMB (888/283-2662).

For more safety tips on fireworks, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission.