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Independence Day celebrations will bring about a surge in food and fireworks, along with a nasty increase in fireworks-related injuries.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, firework injuries increased 52% from 9,700 in 2023 to 14,700 in 2024. This increase is the largest since 2020 and the second largest in the last 25 years. Industry leaders and consumer safety advocates cite the growing popularity of consumer fireworks and mitigation regulations as the cause of the rise in injuries.
During the pandemic, professional display shows were cancelled and more people appeared to have their own firework displays, making consumer fireworks more popular. Industry leaders say the popularity has continued after the pandemic.
“Public displays have been cancelled, which has brought many people in the consumer realm that have never historically bought consumer fireworks. And there were more users, more people you know, and there were more consumption.”
James Fuller, a spokesman for the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory and former CPSC chiefs of staff, said that in the context of how many fireworks consumers use each year, they need to see injuries. According to the AFSL, their members represent 85% to 90% of our fireworks importers.
“There’s been a huge increase in the number of people using fireworks, so obviously, there’s a chance that there’s more people using the product,” Fuller said.
The consumer fireworks industry performed incredible times during the pandemic, nearly doubled its annual revenues between 2019 and 2020. This surge in revenue has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Fireworks imports rose by about 19% between 2023 and 2024, according to the Census Bureau.
According to the CPSC, a surge in supply may be contributing to an increased risk. Estimated deaths for the same period increased by 38%, while injuries increased by 52%. And it’s not just aerial fireworks. An estimated 1,700 people were treated in 2024 due to an emergency room injury involving Sparkler.
Between 2014 and 2024, firework imports increased by an average of around 9% per year, while injuries increased by an average of around 7%.
Kelly Landell of the National Fire Protection Association said injuries and deaths may be proportional to increased firework consumption, but increased consumption should be a source of concern.
“Whenever there is an injury or death, we should frame our actions: if we see an increase in usage and a rise in rates, what should we tell you?
Another reason industry leaders and safety advocates cite the rise in firework injuries is the increasing number of laws being passed which are increasingly being passed on fireworks regulations nationwide. Industry leaders and safety advocates say more states will be able to sell flashier, potentially dangerous fireworks within their borders, resulting in more injuries.
“The industry wanted to sell the product so we managed to convince lawmakers,” Randell said. We have a lot of firefighters to say, “Think about not doing this because of the impact that it will have on fire or injury.” Unfortunately, the industry has been able to use this nationwide and expand those laws. ”
Ground doctors say they noticed how differences in the law affect whether patients are injured by fireworks.
In the emergency room, Dr. Torrey McGowan, a spokesman for the U.S. Emergency Clinic, works in Texas, Alaska, California and Oregon, and finds the tougher local way of life is that fewer people watch in the room waiting for her to get injured in Fireworks.
“The more restrictive the law, the less injuries we see,” McGowan said. “So each state has a variety of fireworks that are permitted and not permitted. So obviously, the more tolerant the state’s fireworks laws, the more likely you are to see injuries caused by those big fireworks.”
Fireworks Safety Tips
Nationally, burns are the most common type of injury, accounting for 37% of emergency room visits in 2024. The most frequently injured body parts were the hands and fingers (36% of injuries) and the head, face and ears (22%).
McGowan said she and her family are still enjoying consumer fireworks when they celebrate July 4th, but she advised that the safest way for families to celebrate is to attend professional fireworks shows and avoid using consumer fireworks entirely.
Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Fireworks Association, said consumers should take steps to ensure that they enjoy fireworks safely.
“I think the most important thing is to buy fireworks from a reputable dealer. I have a calm and responsible adult who is responsible for all the fireworks activities. I want to choose a safe place away from other homes, dry brushes, etc. “Just be sure to have a bucket bucket or a work yard hose nearby. Don’t handle fireworks for young children.”
Once people have finished using fireworks, Heckman said they should leave them in a bucket of water overnight before disposing of them.
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