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. Kiley Law Group can help you determine liability and get you the compensation you deserve for your child's injuries or death - 1-800-410-2769.

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Fireworks Accidents and Children

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, every type of legally acquired fireworks is associated with serious injury or death. Some victims are permanently injured, some are killed, and some fireworks cause fires resulting in massive property damage. Fireworks cause more fires in the U.S. on the Fourth of July than all other causes of fires combined.

The 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 of their own.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) outlaws fireworks with more than 50 mg of explosive material, although aerial devices can contain up to 130 mg of power charge. Consumer fireworks are called “Class C” and include fountains and candles that shoot out sparks or flaming balls, bottle rockets, other rockets, firecrackers, sparklers, and smoke devices.

Fireworks Injuries Statistics

The CPSC conducts surveys each year of fireworks-related injuries and accidents. They have found that one-third of fireworks injuries were caused by firecrackers, and 10% of those were illegal fireworks.

The survey also showed that 10% of fireworks injuries were caused by sparklers that most consumers think are safe. Sparklers can reach temperatures over 1800 F at the tip and cause serious burns and/or ignite clothing. Two-thirds of the fireworks injuries that resulted from sparklers happened to children under 5 years old.

The studies done by CPSC show that firecrackers and aerial devices caused the most injuries. The highest percentage of fireworks injuries requiring hospitalization were caused by illegal and homemade devices. At least half of the injuries were caused by bottle rockets, and more than half resulted in permanent blindness.

Surprisingly, malfunctions of consumer fireworks result in only a small percentage of injuries. However, in 26% of those cases, the injured child was a bystander and there was adult supervision, proving parental supervision alone does not prevent fireworks injuries. National Council on Fireworks Safety,

Males, especially those ages 10 to 14, are at the highest risk of fireworks-related injuries. However, children ages 4 and under are at the highest risk for sparkler-related injuries.

Prevention Tips from CPSC, AAP, and USA SafeKids:

Do not use consumer fireworks.
The best and only safe way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display by trained professionals.
Never allow children to play with any fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers were the leading cause of firework-related injury in 2007.
Firework-related injuries often happen when a parent or an adult is present, therefore, parental supervision alone is not enough to prevent serious injuries
One in four injuries occurs to bystanders. Even if you do not allow your
children to handle fireworks, they can be injured if they're around others who are.
Teach your children the dangers of fireworks.

When you are interviewing personal injury attorneys ask critical questions, like: how long have you been practicing; what is the largest settlement or verdict you’ve obtained, and do you have experience with fireworks injuries? The Law Office of Thomas M. Kiley, located in Andover, Massachusetts takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent basis so there are NO FEES unless our trained personal injury lawyers wins your case. Call now for a FREE evaluation of your case – 1-800-410-2769.

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