Fireworks

Fireworks

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 11 deaths associated with fireworks during 2007. Fireworks were involved in an estimated 9,800 injuries during the 2007 calendar year, with an estimated 6,300 fireworks-related injuries treated during the one month period between June 22 and July 22, 2007. Children under 15 suffered about 42% of the estimated injuries.

Dr. Gary Smith, Director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus Children's Research Institute in Ohio conducted a 22-year study of fireworks injuries treated in emergency rooms.

He found that:

• 67% of sparkler-related injuries were among children 5 years or younger
• 70% of patients treated for all fireworks injuries were male
• Adult supervision was present in 54% of the cases
• The eyes were injured in nearly one-third of the cases
• The average age of patients was 8½ years

Source: Home Safety Council