Fireworks Safety: A 3-Step Guide to a Safer Celebration

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- https://onsafety.cpsc.gov/blog/2017/06/27/fireworks-safety-3-step-guide-to-a-safer-celebration/

According to a new CPSC report of fireworks incidents  in 2016, 11,100 consumers were injured and treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms and four died as a result of direct impact from fireworks.

Children younger than 5 had the second highest rate of injury behind young adults ages 20 to 24.  Injuries associated with consumer fireworks were most often burns to the hands, face and head. Many of the fireworks injuries were a result of misuse or malfunction of fireworks.

What is considered misuse?

• Mischief
• Lighting fireworks inside a body part or in hand

What is a malfunction?

• Fireworks straying off course
• Short fuses
• Blowouts and fragment pieces
• Tip-over incidents           

The four fireworks-related deaths were associated with illegal or professional devices. Three of the four deaths involved reloadable aerial devices, and the fourth involved illegal home manufacturing.

What are the 3 Steps to a Safer Celebration?

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline   
Contact us at this toll-free number: 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)    

Media Contact
Phone: (301) 504-7908   
Spanish: (301) 504-7800

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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission