USF Alum JPP: Hands Off Fireworks During 4th of July

Tampa, FL -- In the Tampa Bay area, Jason Pierre-Paul is fondly remembered as one of the best players to ever suit up for the University of South Florida’s football program. However, the star New York Giants defensive end is now recognized by a much more haunting feature: A disfigured right hand caused by a freak fireworks accident.

Pierre-Paul, 27, was injured attempting to relight a firework at his family’s Deerfield Beach home when it exploded in his hand on July 4, 2015. For this 4th of July, the Boca Raton resident teamed up with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to star in a public service announcement called #FireworksHurt, warning about the dangers of misusing fireworks.

“Fourth of July I lit off a firework. I thought I could throw it away real quick and in a split second it blew up and blew off my whole hand right there,” Pierre-Paul said in the video. “On the way to the hospital all I could do is think about my son and whether I was going to make it.”

After several months of rehabilitation, Pierre-Paul was able to return to the Giants lineup late in the 2015 season and signed a one-year contact with the Giants for $10.5 million on March 8.

According to the CPSC, 70 percent of all injuries with fireworks occur during the 30 days surrounding the 4th of July.

Anyone doubting the danger fireworks can pose need only look at JPP’s hand and listen to his story,” said Elliot Kaye, the commissioner of the CPSC. “JPP’s personal experience and connection with fans and families nationwide will bring much needed attention to these danger and, ultimately, help prevent deaths and injuries from fireworks.”

New data from the CPSC shows there were 11 deaths and nearly 12,000 emergency-room treated injuries in 2015 – the highest number in 15 years.

“With more states relaxing their laws and allowing more times of fireworks to be purchased and used by consumers, we need to do more to prevent kids and adults from being rushed to the hospital like JPP experienced,” Kaye said.

According to the 2015 Fireworks Annual report, nine of the 11 deaths involved re-loadable aerial devices, a professional-grade fireworks device that can quickly result in an explosion if used incorrectly. During last year, the deadliest fireworks incidents most often involved males older than 20. Young adults between the ages of 15 and 19 accounted for the highest rate of injuries, followed by children 5 to 9 years old. About 65 percent of all injuries involved burns from smaller devices such as sparklers, bottle rockets and firecrackers.

The CPSC advises people who decide to purchase consumer fireworks are to follow these safety steps:

• Make sure consumer fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
• Never use or make professional grade fireworks.
• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit ─ hot enough to melt some metals.
• Do not buy fireworks that are packaged in brown paper, which is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move 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, then move away from them quickly.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device to prevent a trash fire.

For more information, visit www.cpsc.gov.

Image and video courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Counsel

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