Red, white, and burns: What to know about July Fourth firework safety
As America heads into the main event of its 250th birthday celebration this weekend, people across the country are loading up on fireworks to mark the occasion.
But what many people would consider to be the most innocuous of the household fireworks collection actually poses the greatest danger.
Here’s what you should know about consumer fireworks and how to safely celebrate this Fourth of July.
Fireworks injuries, deaths in numbers
Every year around Independence Day, 10,000 to 15,000 people go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries, with upwards of 15 people dying from household pyrotechnics, according to reports from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The injuries and deaths are attributed to several factors, including fireworks misuse, malfunctions, unpredictable flight paths, tip-overs, and late ignitions.
Last year, 15 people died, and an estimated 13,000 were treated in emergency rooms around the country, the CPSC noted in a recent news release. In 2019, the commission recorded 12 deaths and 10,000 injuries.
What are the most dangerous fireworks?
A full 10% of last year’s 13,000 injuries came from a common firework that many people would regard as the safest — the humble sparkler. That number is consistent with a 2019 CPSC report, which found that at 12% or 900 injuries, sparklers were the most dangerous firework in American households.
Sparklers, often given to young kids, can reach temperatures above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, posing significant danger to a person’s hands, fingers, arms, and face.
In 2019, the most dangerous fireworks after sparklers were firecrackers, responsible for 800 injuries, followed by bottle rockets, which accounted for 400.
That same year, burns accounted for 57% of reported injuries, with people also suffering lacerations and contusions, as well as fractures and sprains.
Who’s getting burned?
In its 2019 report, the CPSC noted that children under the age of 15 accounted for 36% of injuries that year, while nearly half of those who visited the emergency room with a fireworks-related injury were under 20.
By 2025, those numbers had shifted slightly, as most injuries were seen among the 15-to 24-year-old age bracket.
Men and boys made up an overwhelming majority of fireworks-related injuries in 2019 at 66%, compared with 34% of women and girls.
Staying safe while celebrating
The CPSC detailed several measures revelers should take to celebrate safely this year, including:
- Buy only legal consumer fireworks from reputable retailers. Never use homemade, altered, or illegal fireworks, and always follow the instructions on the label.
- Keep children away from fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to melt some metals — and can cause serious burns in seconds.
- Keep water nearby. Have a bucket of water or a garden hose ready in case of fire or to safely soak used fireworks.
- Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- Light one firework at a time, then move away quickly. Never lean over a firework while lighting the fuse.
- Never aim, throw, or point fireworks at people, animals, or buildings. Never hold, wear, or attach fireworks to your body or clothing. Use fireworks only as directed by the manufacturer.
- Don’t relight a "dud." Wait at least 20 minutes, then soak it thoroughly in water before disposing of it.
- The safest way to celebrate? Leave fireworks to the professionals and enjoy public fireworks displays in your community.
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected].