The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a press release about injuries and deaths associated with fireworks. Officials with the CPSC report that there were an estimated 12,900 fireworks- related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2017. Additionally, there were eight fireworks-related deaths in 2017. The victims’ ages ranged from four to 57 years old. On average, 280 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday. Safety advocates encourage consumers to leave fireworks to the professionals this summer.
Stats from 2017 Fireworks-Related Injuries
- More than 53 percent of the injuries were burns.
- 22 percent of the injuries involved the head, faces and ears.
- 14 percent of injuries involved the eyes.
- 31 percent of injuries involved hands and fingers.
- 10 percent of injuries involved trunks and other body parts.
- 17 percent of injuries involved the legs.
- 6 percent of injuries involved the arms.
Fireworks Safety During The Month of July
Fireworks are a beloved pastime for many families during the summertime. Whether you’re enjoying them at a professional show or using them in your backyard, safety should always come first. The CPSC has a great list of tips to keep you and your family safe around fireworks this summer.
CPSC’s Consumer Fireworks Safety Tips
- Make sure consumer fireworks are legal in your area before purchasing.
- Never use or make professional-grade fireworks.
- Don’t buy or use fireworks that are packaged in brown paper, that’s a sign they are for professional use only.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to melt some metals.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting a fuse, and move a safe distance away immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person or occupied area.
- Light fireworks one at a time, and move away from them quickly.
- Keep a bucket of water or 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.
- 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.
Alexander Law Group, LLP attorneys are always ready to answer questions and share the results of our research and experience with the public. As safety lawyers, our goal is to make a difference for our clients and our community.