The Fourth of July is an important day for all Americans, and can have even more significance to those who have served in the armed services. Perhaps you’re getting together with family and friends, picking up miniature American flags for the backyard, and deciding on your favorite barbecue treats. As military families prepare to celebrate Independence Day, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants to remind everyone to celebrate safely.

According to CPSC’s report of fireworks incidents in 2016, an estimated 11,100 consumers were injured and treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms and four died as a result of direct impact from fireworks. (The deaths were associated with illegal or professional devices: three involved reloadable aerial devices, the fourth involved illegal home manufacturing.)

Children younger than five 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 malfunctions. Misuse can include, for example, mischief with fireworks or lighting them inside a body part or in hand. Malfunctions include fireworks straying off course, short fuses, blowouts and fragment pieces, and tip-over incidents.

What are the 3 Steps to a Safer Celebration?
1. Never allow children to handle a firework device.
2. Check local laws and only use legal, consumer-grade fireworks.
3. Leave professional fireworks to the professionals.

Fireworks are an integral part of how our country celebrates the 4th. Fireworks’ explosive power also can cause serious injury. So remember, celebrate, but do it safely!

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number: 800-638-2772