Fireworks-Related Injuries
How extensive is the problem?
Fireworks Safety Month
In 2003, four persons died and an estimated 9,500 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States (Greene 2004).
An estimated 12% of fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency departments required hospitalization (Greene 2004).
Who is most likely to be injured?
About 50% of persons injured from fireworks are children ages 14 years and younger (Greene 2004).
Males represent 75% of all injuries (Greene 2004).
Children ages 10 to 14 years have the highest injury rate for fireworks-related injuries (Greene 2004).
Persons who are actively participating in fireworks-related activities are more frequently injured, and sustain more severe injuries, than bystanders (Smith 1996).
When and where do these injuries happen?
Injuries occur on and around holidays associated with fireworks celebrations, especially July 4th and New Year's Eve.
Most of these injuries occur in homes. Other common locations include recreational settings, streets or highways, and parking lots or occupational settings (U.S. CPSC 1993).
What kinds of injuries occur?
Fireworks-related injuries most frequently involve hands and fingers (30%), eyes (28%), and the head and face (15%). More than half of the injuries are burns (60%); contusions and lacerations were the second most frequent injuries (20%) (Greene 2004).
Fireworks also can also cause life-threatening residential fires (NFPA 2004).
What types of fireworks are associated with the most injuries?
Illegal large firecrackers represent 5% of all firecracker injuries (Greene 2004).
Fireworks-related injuries are most commonly associated with “class C” fireworks, which are sold legally in many states. Firecrackers (25%), rockets (21%), and sparklers (11%) accounted for most of the injuries seen in emergency departments during 2001 (Greene 2004).
Sparklers were associated with the most injuries for children under five.
For children ages five to 14 years and people ages 15 to 24 years, firecrackers, rockets, and other devices (including sparklers) were the source of most injuries (Greene 2004).
How extensive is the problem?
Fireworks Safety Month
In 2003, four persons died and an estimated 9,500 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States (Greene 2004).
An estimated 12% of fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency departments required hospitalization (Greene 2004).
Who is most likely to be injured?
About 50% of persons injured from fireworks are children ages 14 years and younger (Greene 2004).
Males represent 75% of all injuries (Greene 2004).
Children ages 10 to 14 years have the highest injury rate for fireworks-related injuries (Greene 2004).
Persons who are actively participating in fireworks-related activities are more frequently injured, and sustain more severe injuries, than bystanders (Smith 1996).
When and where do these injuries happen?
Injuries occur on and around holidays associated with fireworks celebrations, especially July 4th and New Year's Eve.
Most of these injuries occur in homes. Other common locations include recreational settings, streets or highways, and parking lots or occupational settings (U.S. CPSC 1993).
What kinds of injuries occur?
Fireworks-related injuries most frequently involve hands and fingers (30%), eyes (28%), and the head and face (15%). More than half of the injuries are burns (60%); contusions and lacerations were the second most frequent injuries (20%) (Greene 2004).
Fireworks also can also cause life-threatening residential fires (NFPA 2004).
What types of fireworks are associated with the most injuries?
Illegal large firecrackers represent 5% of all firecracker injuries (Greene 2004).
Fireworks-related injuries are most commonly associated with “class C” fireworks, which are sold legally in many states. Firecrackers (25%), rockets (21%), and sparklers (11%) accounted for most of the injuries seen in emergency departments during 2001 (Greene 2004).
Sparklers were associated with the most injuries for children under five.
For children ages five to 14 years and people ages 15 to 24 years, firecrackers, rockets, and other devices (including sparklers) were the source of most injuries (Greene 2004).
