Nothing says Fourth of July like fireworks. The bright-colored explosives are every kid’s favorite part of the celebration — and many adults’ favorite, too. They are hypnotic to watch from a distance but pose a severe danger by standing too close or misusing them.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of people were sent to emergency rooms in the U.S. due to injuries sustained from fireworks. Here are basic facts to prepare you for fireworks watching.
Most Injured Areas
The most injured body parts were the hands, fingers, head, face, ears, and eyes. The age groups most likely to be seen in the ER for fireworks injuries were teens ages 15-19 and children ages 5-9.
Burns
The CPSC report found that the majority of ER visits for firework-related injuries involved burns.
Dr. Nick Poulos, trauma director and chief of pediatric surgery at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, noted that burns typically occur on the hands or the face.
These burns are not usually severe. Cold water usually calms the mild burns.
Blast injuries
Poulos went on to say that blast injuries can involve tissue damage and usually require an emergency room visit. A blast injury includes any projectile or fireworks that shoot into the air, thereby injuring either the person igniting it or a spectator.
“Explosives get much more dangerous the more compact they are pressed,” he said. So if a child holds on tightly to a firework that then explodes, “the tissue can’t get away very fast, and so it makes the exposure much worse.”
Blast injuries will require a trip to the emergency room.
Eye injuries
Eye injuries are a significant concern when it comes to fireworks, as they can cause vision damage — sometimes permanently. Eye injuries vary in severity, But any considerable injury to the eye requires medical attention.
In more severe injuries, a firework penetrates the cornea and damages deeper layers of the eye.
Preventative Measures
- Supervision by an adult who is not drinking. Good idea!
- Protective eyewear. The best protection is glasses that won’t shatter. Think of the safety goggles you wore in chemistry class. If you don’t have these on hand, a pair of sunglasses is a second option, even though they are not shatterproof.
- A safe distance. With any fireworks that explode in the sky, everybody ought to be back at least 50 feet away from where this is going off because the risk is also for the audience and the person lighting it. You note this at any public fireworks show. If one stays around after the Alton fireworks show, you can see the firemen lighting and disposing of fireworks. And some do not go in the direction planned!
- A bucket of water or garden hose. Sparklers can be dropped into a bucket of water to be extinguished. Water should be immediately available in case anything catches flame. If a firework doesn’t light or go off correctly, do not handle it or try to light it again.
Keep these ideas in mind as you plan your Independence Day celebrations, and this year will be safer.
