Courtesy of Cy-Fair Hospital

The new year is quickly approaching and fireworks stands are beginning to pop up all around town. While fireworks are beautiful to watch, they are dangerous to play with. If not handled properly, Fireworks can cause severe injuries to eyes and skin. Even just watching a friend light fireworks can put you at risk.

In 2008, U.S. emergency rooms treated 7,000 firework injuries, and seven deaths were reported. Most injuries involved eyes or hands and fingers, and burns accounted for 56 percent of the injuries.  Children under the age of 15 were more likely to be injured by fireworks. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) noted that children ages 5 to 14 had a two-and-a-half times greater risk of fireworks injury than the general population. While the best way to prevent these types of injuries is to leave the show to the experts, it is incredibly important to make sure that children do not handle fireworks. 

Even fireworks sold at a grocery store, such as sparklers or other small novelties, are just as dangerous. Sparklers, which can burn at more than 1,000 degrees Farenheit, accounted for 800 injuries in 2008. Firecrackers and bottle rockets that explode near a person may cause injury to the hands or face.

Children, who are naturally curious and want to see how things work, may unintentionally put themselves in harm’s way when playing near fireworks. They can get too close to a lit firecracker or try to examine a dud that hasn’t ignited properly. Always make sure that children have close adult supervision near fireworks.

If you or a friend chooses to handle fireworks, The National Council on Firework Safety offers these tips:

• Use fireworks outdoors only.
• Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
• Always have water handy. (A hose or bucket).
• Only use fireworks as intended. Don't try to alter them or combine them.
• Never relight a "dud" firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a "designated shooter."
• Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
• Do not ever use homemade fireworks of illegal explosives: They can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.

Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital wishes you a healthy, prosperous new year!