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What to know about fireworks injuries

Fireworks are a common sight at various celebrations throughout the year, but are most prominent during the summer months when Canada Day and Independence Day are celebrated. Fireworks have been in use for thousands of years. Many historians believe fireworks were developed in Liuyang, China, in the second century B.C. The first “fireworks” were made from bamboo stalks that, when thrown into a fire, would explode due to hollow pockets of air in the bamboo, says the American Pyrotechnic Association. Eventually early gunpowder recipes provided the boom behind the fireworks, and modern fireworks are not very different from those early incarnations.

Due to the explosive nature of fireworks, not to mention the required flame to light the fuses, fireworks have the potential to cause serious injury if not handled properly. Many injuries occur each year, particularly among do-it-yourselfers setting off fireworks in their neighborhoods.

The following are some of the most prevalent injuries related to fireworks, courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

  • Burns are the most common injuries associated with fireworks. The CPSC says burns accounted for 39 percent of all injuries in 2022. The hands and fingers (29 percent); head, face and ears (19 percent); legs (19 percent); and eyes (16 percent) are the areas of the body most often affected by burns.
  • Cuts and bruises to the head, face and ears also are common fireworks-related injuries. Such injuries may result from the fast movement of the fireworks upon launch. The blast of fireworks can even damage facial tissue and break bones in the face.

The CPSC says where known, the fireworks with the highest estimated emergency department-treated injuries in 2022 were firecrackers and sparklers. Many people think that sparklers are safe because they are largely marketed to children, but they burn very hot. According to Wired, sparklers can reach temperatures anywhere from 1800 F to 3000 F. To put that in perspective, iron melts at 2800 F.

To protect oneself, it’s always best to leave fireworks to the professionals. Safer options for home celebrations include confetti, balloons, silly string, and other colorful options.

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