Every year, thousands of people are injured badly enough to require medical treatment after firework incidents, with many of the injuries occurring to children and young adults. In fact, over 3,000 children under 15 are sent to the emergency room each year in the US due to fireworks.
While the majority of these incidents are due to amateurs attempting to use illegal fireworks, small firecrackers and sparklers can also cause significant injuries. In addition, fireworks start an average of 19,000 fires each year. We strongly encourage that everyone enjoys fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not by using fireworks at home. They may be legal, but they are not safe.
If consumer fireworks are legal and you choose to use them, be sure to follow these tips:
- Never allow children (old or young) to handle fireworks.
- Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
- Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear.
- Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands.
- Never light them indoors.
- Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Only light one device at a time and move away quickly after lighting.
- Never ignite devices in a container.
- Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.
- Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.
- Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire.
Sparklers are also dangerous:
Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries. Consider using safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers or colored streamers.
And let’s not forget our dear pets. To keep pets safe during fireworks you should:
- Take them for a walk before the fireworks begin.
- Leave your pets safely indoors, preferably with a radio or TV turned on to soften jarring noises.
- Make sure they have somewhere to hide if they want to.
- Keep them away from matches, open fires, and fireworks.
Written by: Betsy Lovensheimer, Senior Vice President
