As we approach the 4th of July, we urge you to stay away from fireworks and leave the displays to the professionals. Thousands of people are injured every year using fireworks with injuries ranging from burns, to contusions and lacerations and even blindness.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission conducted a special study of fireworks between June 21 and July 21, 2013 and revealed that 7,400 people were treated in emergency rooms with fireworks-related injuries. 40% of those injured were under the age of 15. Children should never be allowed to use fireworks, including novelties, fountains, and even sparklers, which burn at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees.1
As safe as sparklers may seem, they were the number one cause for emergency room visits during the special study with 2,300 injuries. 35% of those sparkler injuries were children under the age of 5.1
In addition to personal injury, in 2011 fireworks were responsible for 17,800 fires causing over $32 million in direct property damage. 2 Please protect yourself, your children, and your property this weekend by staying safe and not using fireworks.
#besafethis4th
1CPSC, 2013 Fireworks Annual Report
2NFPA, 2012