Avoid Fireworks Injuries This Summer
According to 2020 data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 15,600 people were treated in U.S. emergency departments for fireworks injuries, with 66% of injuries occurring in the month around the…
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
According to 2020 data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 15,600 people were treated in U.S. emergency departments for fireworks injuries, with 66% of injuries occurring in the month around the July 4th holiday.
Backyard fireworks, especially sparklers, also account for a high number of pediatric injuries each summer. In fact, the tip of a sparkler can reach over 1,000 degrees and while pretty, they are a considerable burn risk.
Michael A. Marano, MD, Medical Director at the Burn Center, at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, offers some safety tips:
- Use fireworks outside and away from homes/brush/leaves/flammable substances
- Keep a bucket of water or hose nearby for malfunctioning and unused fireworks
- Keep fireworks out of the hands of children
- Wear protective eyewear when using or standing near fireworks
