MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It is understood that fireworks pose inherent dangers, especially to your family’s youngest members. More than American 4,200 children ages 0 to 9 visited the hospital for firework-related injuries in 2022, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Seven percent of those children were injured badly enough to be hospitalized.
Leaving Pyrotechnics to the Pros
The best way to keep your family safe with fireworks is to leave it to the professionals. Do not use them at home; attend public fireworks displays instead. And while sparklers may seem like a staple of Fourth of July celebrations, they are not safe for children. “We think that because they aren’t designed to jettison in any way, they are safe for kids to handle,” says Jennifer Taylor, manager of Injury Prevention and Safe Kids Mid-South. “Once you realize how hot they burn, that opinion changes quickly.” They burn at extremely high temperatures— as much as 1,200 degrees F°—and are hot enough to melt glass and cause serious eye injuries and burns.
If you do decide to light fireworks yourself, be extra cautious. Wear loose clothing when handling fireworks or matches and never use fireworks indoors. Always use fireworks outside, pointing them away from homes and people, and make sure you’re far away from brush, leaves, dry grass, and flammable substances.
Safety First with Fireworks
Here are four tips your family should follow to keep kids safe from injury:
- Keep Your Distance. Make sure everyone keeps a safe distance from fireworks that are being lit.
- Don’t Investigate. If a firework doesn’t go off, don’t stand over it. Have a bucket of water nearby to make sure it’s out.
- Prepare for Problems. In addition to posing serious safety risks, fireworks can also cause fires (and in fact, burns made up 32% of all fireworks injuries in 2021, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.) Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and know how to operate it.
- Dispose Safely. When you’re done with the fireworks, douse the remains with a bucket of water before disposing of them to avoid a trash fire.
For more tips and resources to keep kids safe from injuries, please visit www.lebonheur.org/safekids.
About Le Bonheur Children’s
Le Bonheur Children’s, based in Memphis, Tenn., provides expert care for children in more than 45 pediatric subspecialties, encompassing robust community programs, a pediatric research institute and regional outpatient centers in Jackson, Tenn., Tupelo, Miss., and Jonesboro, Ark. Le Bonheur also features a 255-bed hospital in Memphis and a 21-bed satellite hospital within Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. As the primary pediatric teaching affiliate for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur trains more than 350 pediatricians and specialists each year. Nationally recognized, Le Bonheur has been named a U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital for 12 consecutive years and is a Magnet-designated facility, the ultimate credential for high-quality patient care and nursing excellence.
For more information, please call (901) 287-6030 or visit lebonheur.org. Connect with us at facebook.com/lebonheurchildrens, twitter.com/lebonheurchild or on Instagram at lebonheurchildrens.
