The Fourth of July is right around the corner and that means that kids and families will be excited to watch or use some fireworks. Fireworks are a fun way to make any celebration a bright and sparkly event, however, fireworks are not safe for children and can cause serious harm including devastating burns and other injuries.
Did you know that more than 3,000 children – under the age of 15 – are sent to the emergency room each year in the United States because of fireworks. “Fireworks were involved with an estimated 15,600 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during calendar year 2020 (95 percent confidence interval 12,300 – 19,000),” according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2020 Fireworks Annual Report. In addition “The estimated rate of emergency department-treated injuries is 4.7 per 100,000 individuals in the United States, an increase from 3.1 estimated injuries per 100,000 individuals in 2019.
Here are a few tips to stay safe around fireworks:
- The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend public fireworks displays organized by trained professionals
- You can help them stay safer by giving them glow sticks rather than sparklers. Sparklers, which are commonly given to children during holidays, heat up to 1,200 degrees and cause approximately one-third of the injuries to children under five
- Only older children should only use fireworks, if children are to use them, but always under the close supervision of an adult
- Anyone using or near fireworks should wear protective eyewear and NO loose clothing
- Allow for cool down and use protective gloves to pick up expended fireworks as they will be hot. It is best to soak spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person
- Only light one firework at a time
- Never use illegal fireworks
- Be prepared in case of an emergency. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and be sure to douse the remains of the fireworks with water
Note: cover photo shared from Safe Kids Georgia
Full report available HERE.