As families across the country prepare to celebrate Independence Day and the country’s 250th anniversarye anniversary, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) reminds the public to take precautions when handling fireworks. Fireworks can cause serious injuries to the hands, fingers, arms and face, many of which can have lasting consequences. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 14,700 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2024, a 52% increase from 2023.1
“Many fireworks injuries affect the hands and fingers and can result in severe burns, fractures or even amputations,” says Tyler Steven Pidgeon, MD, FAAOS, orthopedic hand surgeon and spokesperson for the AAOS. “Even devices that may seem harmless, such as sparklers, can reach temperatures high enough to cause serious injury. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a professional public display and keep children away from consumer fireworks.”
AAOS offers the following safety tips to help prevent fireworks-related bone and joint injuries:
- Contact your local police department to determine if fireworks are legal in your area. If so, find out what types there are and check to make sure there isn’t a burn ban in effect in your community that could lead to dangerous fire conditions.
- Never buy or use illegal fireworks. Their quality cannot be guaranteed.
- Only adults are allowed to light fireworks.
- Never allow young children to play with or come near fireworks, including sparklers. Some sparklers can reach temperatures of over 1000 degrees.
- Make sure you always have water on hand in case of fire, such as a hose connected to a tap or a bucket of water nearby.
- Wear safety glasses when lighting fireworks.
- Soak used fireworks in water before disposing of them to prevent accidental fires.
- Never attempt to light fireworks again.
- If you are injured by fireworks, seek medical attention immediately.
- Never handle fireworks if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
For more information about fingertip injuries and amputations, please visit OrthoInfo.org.
1 CPSC Urges Fireworks Safety Before the 4th of July Holiday | CPSC.gov
SOURCE American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
