Fireworks are part of Independence Day celebrations. The safest way to enjoy these explosive demonstrations is leaving the shows to the professionals. Firework accidents now account for almost 16,000 emergency room visits annually and the number increases every year. Fireworks are dangerous by design. Understanding the cause of firework accidents and potential hazards associated with them is especially critical was we approach the Fourth of July.
Fireworks are materials with the potential to cause serious injuries. More than 30% of all injuries affect the hands and fingers and the second most commonly injured areas are the head, including the face and ears at 22%. Firework Injuries Can Result in:
- Burns
- Bruises
- Lacerations
- Permanent Scars
- Blindness
- Loss of Extremities
- Death
Fireworks accidents also result in home and vehicle fires and destroy property and put lives in danger. The individuals at the highest risk of being injured by fireworks include children, teens, and intoxicated adults. There are several factors and circumstances that increase the likelihood of firework accident occurrences.
- Human Error – Failure to follow firework precautions, warnings, and instructions is a major cause of many of the serious injuries that occur.
- Defective Fireworks – Damaged or poorly manufactured fireworks are highly likely to result in serious accidental injury. This also includes situations in which amateurs make their own fireworks at home without experience or proper materials. Never attempt to manufacture fireworks at home.
- Illegal Fireworks – Legal firework manufacturers are limited in the amounts of explosive material that can be inside their products. Illegal fireworks contain unregulated amounts of highly dangerous explosive materials. The explosive power of illegal fireworks has the potential to result in serious, life-threatening injuries and death.
- Unsupervised Children – Children should be supervised near any type of firework. Many people underestimate the dangers of sparklers and bottle rockets.
The reason that fireworks are especially dangerous is their unstable and unpredictable composition. Some firework types continue to claim responsibility for thousands of accidents annually. The most Injury-Causing Fireworks:
- Sparklers
- Fountains
- Rockets
- Firecrackers
- Professional Grade Fireworks
The most critical piece of information to remember is all fireworks have the potential to be dangerous without adequate adult supervision and caution. Firework accidents can cause serious burns and life-threatening injuries. It’s important to act immediately if you witness a firework accident. The longer you delay professional burn treatment, the more extensive the tissue damage could become.
1.) Call 911 immediately.
2.) Take photos and video evidence of the injuries, surrounding circumstances, and witness contact information. These may prove beneficial if someone else, or an entity, is determined to be liable for the accident.
3.) Seek medical attention. This is crucial regardless of the severity of the injuries.
Firework Safety Tips
A few important Firework Safety Tips Include:
- Burns to the hands are one of the most injuries that occur. Never ignite fireworks in your hand.
- Kids and teens do not understand the dangers associated with fireworks. Keep fireworks out of reach of children
- Always ensure that pets and children are not at risk of coming into contact with fireworks.
- Never attempt to ignite professional-grade or illegal fireworks.
- Never use fireworks that have gotten wet or otherwise damaged. This changes the chemical composition of the explosive and creates a highly dangerous situation.
- Use protective eyewear and ensure that fireworks are not lit near shrubbery, vehicles, or buildings.
- Drugs and alcohol hinder the brain’s ability to make rational and safe decisions. Never light fireworks while under the influence.
We represent people injured as a result of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. Insurance companies have paid our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation because we uncover the facts. When insurance companies fail to offer full compensation, we are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com
