FIREWORKS-RELATED INJURIES
Submitted by Dawn Kolbeck
What is the safest way to prevent fireworks injuries?
The safest way to prevent fireworks-related injuries is to leave fireworks
displays to trained professionals.
How extensive is the problem?
In 2005, four persons died and an estimated 10,800 were treated in
Emergency Departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United
States (Greene & Joholske 2006).
An estimated 5% of fireworks-related injuries treated in Emergency
Departments required hospitalization (Greene & Joholske 2006).
Who is most likely to be injured?
About 60% of all fireworks-related injuries in 2005 occurred between
June 18 and July 18. During that time period:
- About 45% of persons injured from fireworks were children ages 14
years and younger;
- Males were injured by fireworks more than twice as often as females:
- Children ages 10 to 14 years had the highest injury rate for fireworks-
related injuries (Greene & Joholske 2006).
Persons who are actively participating in fireworks-related activities are
more frequently injured, and sustain more severe injuries, than
bystanders (Smith et al. 1996).
When do these injuries happen?
Injuries occur on and around holidays associated with fireworks
celebrations, especially July 4th and New Year's Eve.
What kinds of injuries occur?
Between June 18 and July 18, 2005:
- Fireworks-related injuries most frequently involved hands and fingers
(31%), eyes (25%), and the head and face (20%) (Greene &
Joholske 2006).
- More than half of the injuries were burns. Burns were the most
common injury to all body parts except the eyes. In the eyes,
contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies occurred more frequently
(Greene & Joholske 2006).
Fireworks can be associated with serious injuries such as blindness, third
degree burns, and permanent scarring (Smith et al. 1996).
Fireworks also cause life-threatening residential and motor vehicle fires
(Greene & Joholske 2006).
What types of fireworks are associated with the most injuries?
Between June 18 and July 18, 2005:
- Firecrackers (26%), sparklers (17%), and rockets (17%) accounted
for most of the injuries seen in Emergency Departments (Greene &
Joholske 2006).
- Sparklers were associated with more than half of the estimated
injuries for children under five (Greene & Joholske 2006).
Between 2000-2005, more than one third of the fireworks-related deaths
involved professional devices that were illegally sold to consumers
(CPSC 2006a).
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, some of which
are sold legally in some states, bottle rockets can fly into ones face
and cause eye injuries; sparklers can ignite ones clothing (sparklers
burn at more than 1,000oF); and firecrackers can injure ones 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 (for example, ones made of the
powder from several firecrackers) can lead to dangerous explosions
(CDC 2004).
How much do these injuries cost each year?
An estimated 2,200 reported structure or vehicle fires were started by
fireworks in 2004. These fires resulted in $21 million in direct property
damage (Hall 2007).
What effect do laws have on fireworks injuries?
Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission prohibits the sale of the most dangerous
types of fireworks and the components intended to make them. The
banned fireworks include various large aerial devices, M-80s, quarter-
sticks, half-sticks and other large firecrackers. Any firecracker with
more than 50 milligrams of explosive powder and any aerial firework
with more than 130 milligrams of flash powder is banned under federal
law, as are mail order kits and components designed to build these
fireworks (U.S. CPSC 2006b).
References:
CDC. Brief Report: Injuries Associated with Homemade Fireworks --- Selected States, 19932004. MMWR 2004: 53(25);562-563. Available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5325a5.htm
Canton-Inwood Memorial Hospital
440 North Hiawatha Drive Canton, SD 57013
