Fireworks Safety from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control
Fact: the safest way to prevent fireworks-related injuries is to leave fireworks displays to trained professionals. Annually, thousands of people are treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained from the usage of fireworks, the highest rate of injury being to children under 15 years of age. The most common injuries that occur are to the hands and fingers, eyes, and the head and face.
Fireworks can cause blindness, severe burns, permanent scarring, and may also cause life threatening fires.
The majority of firework related injuries are caused by firecrackers, sparklers, and bottle rockets. Sparklers are associated with more than half of the estimated injuries for children under five. Parents, many of whom are aware of the dangers of firecrackers, bottle rockets, and roman candles, have an illusion that sparklers are safe for young children. Because sparklers can reach temperatures of over 1000°F.; they are dangerous to handle by anyone, not just children.
How and why do these injuries occur? • Availability: In spite of federal regulations and varying state prohibitions, many types of fireworks are often accessible by the public. It is not uncommon to find fireworks distributors near state borders, where residents of states with strict fireworks regulations can take advantage of more lenient state laws. • Fireworks type: Among the various types of fireworks, bottle rockets can fly into one’s face and cause eye injuries; sparklers can ignite one’s clothing (sparklers burn at more than 1000°F); and firecrackers can injure one’s hands or face if they explode at close range. • Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone bends over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person. • Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely. • Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks, which can increase their chances of being injured (for example, when they re-examine a firecracker dud that initially fails to ignite). • Experimentation: Homemade fireworks can lead to dangerous explosions (CDC 2004).
Again, we remind New Yorkers that all fireworks are illegal to use or possess in this state without a permit. They can lead to serious injuries or death. We implore all New Yorkers to obey state law and leave fireworks displays to the trained professionals.
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