Have A Blast, But Take Heed: Fireworks at Home Pose Danger

The Fourth of July, wrote John Adams, in a July 3, 1776 letter to his wife, Abigail, "ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more."

To which the Founding Father could have added, "but be wise, careful, attentive and safe."

Toward that end, we here in the 21st century would be wise to remember that hospital emergency rooms in 2010 treated an estimated 8,600 people for fireworks-related injuries, of which 73 percent occurred between June 18 and July 18, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

The administration notes what you can do to stay safe this Fourth of July, and the advice is short and to the point: "The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period. Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals."

Paying heed to that advice in the Greater Brandon area would mean attendance at the Brandon Blast on July 4, from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Westfield Brandon Restaurant Courtyard in front of The Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen. The annual event includes live bands, family entertainment and dining. The event culminates with a fireworks show at 9 p.m.

• Related Coverage, Westfield Brandon Readies for Brandon Blast Fireworks Celebration

As evident by the growing number of fireworks stands throughout the streets of Greater Brandon, however, it is more than obvious do-it-yourselfers will be staging fireworks displays at home.

Should you decide to be one of them, keep in mind the following findings from the U.S. Fire Administration's report on 2012 injuries.

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Who Suffered The Most From Fireworks-Related Injuries . . .

• Sixty-five percent were to males and 35 percent were to females.

• Children under age 15 accounted for 40 percent of the estimated injuries.

• Children and young adults under age 20 had 53 percent of the estimated injuries.

What Types Of Fireworks Caused The Most Injuries . . .

• An estimated 900 injuries were associated with firecrackers. Of these, an estimated 30 percent were associated with small firecrackers, 17 percent with illegal firecrackers and 53 percent where the type of firecracker was not specified.

• An estimated 1,200 injuries were associated with sparklers and 400 with bottle rockets.

What Body Parts Are Most Often Injured With Fireworks . . .

• Hands and fingers (30 percent)
• Legs (22 percent)
• Eyes (21 percent)
• Head, face, and ears (16 percent)

A Few More Facts . . .

• More than half of the injuries were burns. Burns were the most common injury to all parts of the body except the eyes, where contusions, lacerations, and foreign bodies in the eye occurred more frequently.

• Most patients were treated at the emergency department and then released. An estimated 7 percent of patients were treated and transferred to another hospital or admitted to the hospital.

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Some Words Of Advice From Safe Kids USA:

• Children should never play with or light fireworks or sparklers. Adults who use fireworks should not use them around children.

• In 2010, 3,400 children under age 15 were injured by fireworks. More than 70 percent of the injuries occurred in the weeks surrounding July 4.

• Sparklers accounted for one-third of the fireworks injuries noted above. At their core, sparklers reach up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.