Emergency rooms treated an estimated 8,600 people for fireworks-related injuries in 2010. 73% of these injuries occurred between June 18 and July 18.
- Children under 15 accounted for 40% of the estimated injuries.
- Approximately 900 injuries were associated with firecrackers.
- 1,200 injuries were associated with sparklers, and 400 with bottle rockets.
- The parts of the body most often injured were hands and fingers (30%), legs (22%), eyes (21%), and head, face, and ears (16%).
- Burns were the most common injury to all parts of the body except the eyes, wherecontusions, lacerations, and foreign bodies in the eye occurred more frequently.
- 7% of patients had to be admitted or transferred to another hospital.
In addition to direct physical injuries:
- 18,000 fires caused by fireworks
- $38 million in direct property losses.
What’s the solution?
The U.S. Fire Administration, a division of FEMA, has just one recommendation:
Leave the fireworks in the hands of the professionals — and sit back and enjoy the show, safely.
Happy Independence Day!
Sources: USFA, FEMA, Consumer Product Safety Commission and National Fire Protection Association