Setting off fireworks is a tradition for many North American families on summer holidays like the Fourth of July and Canada Day. But these celebrations can have dangerous consequences, particularly for the youth.
According to the 2021 Fireworks Annual Report of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 11,500 injuries involving fireworks were treated in emergency rooms in the United States last year, 8,500 of which occurred between June 18 and July 18.
People under the age of 25 years old and under 15 years old accounted for around 49 percent and 29 percent of total injuries, respectively, during that month-long period. A recent poll found that adherence to fireworks safety measures can still be hit and miss even among those who understand the risks.
Some parents do not follow safety precautions
According to a report by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at the University of Michigan Health, some parents do not follow all safety precautions for using fireworks and sparklers with their kids.
Sarah Clark, a research scientist in the department of pediatrics at the University of Michigan's Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation and a co-director of the national poll, said parents need to own their responsibility to make sure as best they can that they are not setting up a situation that is going to mar or impede from the celebration because somebody had an injury or somebody got burned.
Susan McKelvey, communications manager of the National Fire Protection Association, maintained that fireworks-related injuries are avoidable and preventable. She said that if parents can, it is best to attend a public firework display put on by trained professionals instead. McKelvey said that is the safest way to enjoy fireworks, and you will probably see nothing more spectacular anywhere else.
If parents do choose to light their own fireworks at home, here are some ways they can protect themselves and those around them. First, parents should make sure fireworks are legal in their area before purchasing or using them, according to Alex Hoehn-Saric, chair of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
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Children need to be willing to follow the safety rules
Jane Terry, the vice president of government affairs at the National Safety Council, told CNN that consumers should never use sparklers or fireworks indoors or without reading firework instructions for proper use.
Clark said that caregivers and parents should also figure out the maturity level of their children before deciding to engage in activities related to sparklers and fireworks. Kids must be willing to follow safety rules even when they get excited about the fireworks, and parents must make sure their children understand those rules. Clark added that parents need to enforce those rules, which is the most important thing.
