Fireworks-Safety & Injury Information

Fireworks are Dangerous and
Illegal in San Jose

What is the safest way to prevent fireworks injuries?

• The safest way to prevent fireworks-related injuries is to leave fireworks displays to trained professionals.

Who is most likely to be injured?

• About 60% of all fireworks-related injuries in 2005 occurred between June 18 and July 18.
• During that time period: About 45% of persons injured from fireworks were children ages 14 years and younger; males were injured by fireworks more than twice as often as females; and children ages 10 to 14 years had the highest injury rate for fireworks-related injuries (Greene & Joholske 2006).
• Persons who are actively participating in fireworks-related activities are more frequently injured, and sustain more severe injuries, than bystanders (Smith et al. 1996).

When do these injuries happen?

• Injuries occur on and around holidays associated with fireworks celebrations, especially July 4th and New Year's Eve.

What kinds of injuries occur?

• Between June 18 and July 18, 2005: Fireworks-related injuries most frequently involved hands and fingers (31%), eyes (25%), and the head and face (20%) (Greene & Joholske 2006).
• More than half of the injuries were burns. Burns were the most common injury to all body parts except the eyes. In the eyes, contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies occurred more frequently (Greene & Joholske 2006).
• In 2005, four persons died and an estimated 10,800 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States (Greene & Joholske 2006).
• An estimated 5% of fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency departments required hospitalization (Greene & Joholske 2006).

What types of fireworks are associated with the most injuries?

• Between June 18 and July 18, 2005: Firecrackers (26%), sparklers (17%), and rockets (17%) accounted for most of the injuries seen in emergency departments (Greene & Joholske 2006).
• Sparklers were associated with more than half of the estimated injuries for children under five (Greene & Joholske 2006).
• Between 2000-2005, more than one third of the fireworks-related deaths involved professional devices that were illegally sold to consumers (CPSC 2006a).

How and why do these injuries occur?

• Availability: In spite of federal regulations and varying state prohibitions, many types of fireworks are often accessible by the public. It is not uncommon to find fireworks distributors near state borders, where residents of states with strict fireworks regulations can take advantage of more lenient state laws.
• Fireworks type: Among the various types of fireworks, some of which are sold legally in some states, bottle rockets can fly into one’s face and cause eye injuries; sparklers can ignite one’s clothing (sparklers burn at more than 1,000oF); and firecrackers can injure one’s hands or face if they explode at close range.
• Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone bends over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person.
• Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely.
• Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks, which can increase their chances of being injured (for example, when they re-examine a firecracker dud that initially fails to ignite).
• Experimentation: Homemade fireworks (for example, ones made of the powder from several firecrackers) can lead to dangerous explosions (CDC 2004).

How much do these injuries cost each year?

• An estimated 2,200 reported structure or vehicle fires were started by fireworks in 2004. These fires resulted in $21 million in direct property damage (Hall 2007).

For further information visit the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web-site

Posted by: Captain, Alberto Olmos, SJFD, PIO