Firework Safety Tips for New Year’s Eve

With the launch of each New Year, thousands of Americans are admitted to emergency rooms with burn injuries caused by fireworks. Despite growing safety initiatives, 2015 marked the worst year for fireworks injuries in at least 15 year.

New Year Firework Injury Facts and Statistics

• In 2015, 11 people died and 11,900 consumers were injured in firework accidents.
• A majority of these injuries occurred on or near the New Year and July 4^th holidays.
• According to the CPSC, more than half of these injuries were the result of unexpected ignition.
• Children under the age of 15 accounted for 26 percent of firework injuries in 2015, and 42 percent emergency room-treated injuries were to individual under the age of 20.
• 1,900 emergency department-treated injuries were associated with sparklers.

Facts About Firework Injuries

• Most fireworks injuries result in burns to the head. These burns are often to the eyes, face, and ears.
• Other firework accidents result in severe hand burns which can result in the loss of fingers.
• In most accidents, sparklers, firecrackers, and flying firework devices are involved.
• Firework accident fatalities are nearly always caused by a device that malfunctions and explodes.

Firework Safety Tips

• Closely supervise children playing with fireworks.
• Never allow small children to ignite fireworks.
• When popping fireworks, always keep a bucket of water or hose close by.
• Never place any part of the body directly over a firework device.
• Never point fireworks in the direction of another person.
• Never try to relight a malfunctioning firework device.
• Never shoot off fireworks out of a glass or metal container.
• Only purchase legal fireworks.
• Never buy fireworks which come in a brown paper bag because they may not be meant for the sale to consumers.