Notice to Readers: Injuries From Fireworks in the United States
Fireworks traditionally are used in the United States to celebrate Independence
Day on July 4th. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates
that 8500 persons in the United States are treated in emergency departments each year
for fireworks-related injuries (1). Of all fireworks-related injuries, 70%--75% occur during
a 30-day period that surrounds the July 4th holiday (June 23--July 23)
(2). Seven of every 100 persons injured by fireworks are hospitalized, approximately 40% of those
injured are children aged <14 years, and males are injured three times more often
than females (1). The injury rate is highest among boys aged 10--14 years
(3). Most commonly, injuries from fireworks affect the hands (34%), face (12%), and eyes
(17%) (4). Injuries are more frequent and more severe among persons who are
active participants than among bystanders
(3).
The estimated annual cost of fireworks-related injuries is $100 million
(4). In 1997, the U.S. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated that fireworks
were responsible for direct property damage of $22.7 million
(5).
Although some types of fireworks are legal in some states, CDC, NFPA, and
CPSC
recommend that fireworks be used only by professionals. All fireworks potentially
are dangerous (e.g., sparklers burn at more than 1000 F [538 C]), especially to
children. Because fireworks are unregulated, there is always a risk for injury with
fireworks. Additional information about fireworks safety is available from CDC on the
World-Wide Web, http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc, or CPSC,
http://www.cpsc.gov.*
References
US Consumer Product Safety Commission. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System
data, 1997 [Machine-readable public use data tape]. Washington, DC: US Consumer Product
Safety Commission, 1998.
McFarland LV, Harris JR, Kobayashi JM, Dicker RC. Risk factors for fireworksrelated injury
in Washington state. JAMA 1984;251:3251--4.
Smith GA, Knapp JF, Barnett TM, Shields BJ. The rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in
air: fireworks-related injuries to children. Pediatrics 1996;98:1--9.
CDC. Fireworksrelated injuries---Marion County, Indiana, 1986--1991. MMWR 1992;41:451--4.
Hall JR Jr. Fireworks-related injuries, deaths, and fires in the U.S. Quincy, Massachusetts:
National Fire Protection Association, Fire Analysis and Research Division, 1999.
* References to sites of non-CDC organizations on the World-Wide Web are provided as
a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these
organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is
not responsible for the content of pages found at these sites.
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