About 4,000 children each year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries caused by fireworks accidents. These injuries usually happen to the hands, eyes, head, and face. Almost one-third of eye injuries from fireworks end up in permanent blindness. Parents can protect their kids from these kinds of accidents by following these suggestions.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, every type of legally acquired fireworks is associated with serious injury or death. Some people are permanently injured, some are killed, and some fireworks cause fires resulting in property damage. Fireworks cause more fires in the U.S. on the Fourth of July than all other causes of fires combined.
AAP thinks pediatricians should talk to parents about how to protect their children from fireworks injuries. The safest advice they can give is to encourage parents to take their children to enjoy public fireworks displays rather than purchase fireworks to do themselves. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), most fireworks injuries are caused by bottle rockets and sparklers. The AAP and CPSC have fireworks prevention tips for parents.
For more information, go to:
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
American Academy of Pediatrics
