The Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) announced on June 26, the release of a special study
regarding incidents of injuries surrounding July 4 holiday festivities. The
study, conducted by CPSC staff, found that 65 percent (or 7,400) of all
fireworks injuries in 2013 were sustained during the 30 days surrounding the
Independence Day holiday.
Shockingly, CPSC staff found that
there were an estimated 11,400 people who sustained injuries related to
fireworks. The 11,400 fireworks related injuries are a swift increase from
2012, which found 8,700 firework related injuries. More than half of these
injuries were the result of unexpected ignition of the device or consumers not
using fireworks as intended. Fireworks injuries most often resulted in burns to
the hands and head, including the eyes, face, and ears. According to the
special study, sparklers, firecrackers, and aerial devices were associated with
the most incidents.
Whether it is the sparkle of the bright lights, or the
thunderous boom of the explosion, there is no denying the thrill that fireworks
can bring to an Independence Day celebration. Unfortunately, when consumers get
their hands on professional fireworks, the results can be deadly. Last year,
CPSC received reports of eight consumers who were killed by either
professional-grade or homemade firework devices.
While the majority of fireworks injury reports involve
emergency room treatment and release, CPSC is aware of more severe and fatal
injuries that are associated with consumer use of professional-grade and
homemade fireworks. Reports of faster-than-expected explosions and
unpredictable flight paths of aerial devices have resulted in tragic
consequences for some consumers.
In the eight reported fireworks-related deaths, the
victims were killed when the illegal devices exploded, causing severe trauma to
the head and face, and resulting in decapitation in one incident. In other
incidents involving professional-grade or homemade devices, the victims
reportedly sustained severe burns and the loss of fingers.
CPSC urges consumers to follow these safety steps:
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks. Parents may not realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees—hot enough to melt some metals.
- Always have an adult closely supervise fireworks activities if older children are allowed to handle devices.
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Keep a bucket of water or a 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.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Light fireworks one at a time, and then move back quickly.
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable
risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer
products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage
from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion
annually. For more information please visit CPSC online and for consumer
product related questions call the CPSC Hotline at (800) 638-2772. El CPSC estudio está disponible en español.
