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  4. Firework Safety and Protecting Your Hands and Wrists

Firework Safety and Protecting Your Hands and Wrists

Fireworks are a popular way to celebrate holidays and special occasions across the United States. Each year, Americans purchase more than $1 billion worth of fireworks, totaling over 250 million pounds. Over the past four decades, fireworks sales have increased dramatically, growing nearly tenfold. While fireworks can add excitement to celebrations, they can also pose serious risks if not handled safely.

A woman holding firework sparklers

Firework injuries by the numbers

Unfortunately, there are also some more sobering fireworks statistics. Almost 10,000 Americans each year seek treatment in emergency departments for firework injuries. About 10% of these injuries are severe and can result in loss of fingers or blindness. There are even several firework-related fatalities each year. The annual cost of care for all of these injuries is estimated at over $10 million.

Common firework injuries

The most common injuries seen include burns (50%), hand injuries (33%), and eye injuries (15%). Children age 5-19 have twice the risk of injury. It is also worth noting that 25% of those injured are just bystanders, and 50% had adult supervision when injured.

Firework safety tips to protect your hands and wrists


So, what can you do to protect yourself and your family from firework injuries? Here are a few tips:

  1. Leave it to the professionals! Professional displays offer a spectacular show with minimal risk of injury to spectators.
  2. Although several shows have been cancelled or postponed this year, check your local news source to see if there is a public firework display near you, and be sure to follow appropriate social distancing precautions.
  3. Alcohol and fireworks are a dangerous combination. Designate a responsible sober adult to handle the explosives.
  4. Wear eye protection. Projectile fireworks and children with sparklers can be especially unpredictable. Hardware stores sell inexpensive safety glasses that may end up preventing a blinding injury.
  5. Never relight a short fuse or approach a firework that failed to detonate without first dousing it with water.
  6. Never attempt to hold or throw lit fireworks. This causes the majority of hand injuries.
  7. Keep the crowd far back, especially kids and pets.
  8. Douse fireworks in water before picking them up to throw them away. This helps to prevent late detonations, hand burns, and trash fires.