Tips to avoid fireworks injuries this Fourth of July 2025

July 1, 2025
Contact: Dawn Bryant
Tidelands Health
(843) 652-1636
dbryant@tidelandshealth.org
 
News for Immediate Release:

Tips to avoid fireworks injuries this Fourth of July
Setting off fireworks is a tradition during many Fourth of July celebrations, but it’s important to remember simple steps to keep safe.
Visits to emergency departments with burns, hearing damage and other fireworks-related injuries increase leading up to and in the weeks after Independence Day, said Wendi Kobylarz, Tidelands Health emergency department director.  
Whether people are setting off bottle rockets, Roman candles or other types of pyrotechnics, those who aren’t paying close attention and following safety guidelines can easily send themselves or someone else to the ER.
In 2024, about 14,700 people were treated in ERs for fireworks injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Burns were the most common injury. Sparklers caused an estimated 1,700 injuries treated in emergency departments, according to the commission.
Hands and fingers were the body parts most often injured by fireworks, followed by the head, face and ears. Adults ages 25 to 44 made up the largest share of injuries from fireworks that ended up in the emergency department.
“Patients we’ve seen in recent years because of fireworks or sparklers have had hand burns or complained of ringing ears from being too close to fireworks,” Kobylarz said.
Sparklers are a common cause of burns, Kobylarz said. That’s because the popular hand-held displays burn at about 2,000 degrees. 
The risk doesn’t end when the sparkler burns itself out because the sparkler stick can remain extremely hot. It’s best to douse the sparkler in water at the end to avoid potentially injuring yourself or someone else.
To stay safe around fireworks this year, follow these recommendations from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and safety officials:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. 

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap. 

• Light fireworks one at a time, then move quickly away from the firework. 

• Never place any part of your body directly over a firework when lighting the fuse. Once the firework is lit, move to a safe distance.  

• To prevent a trash fire, douse spent fireworks with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding.

• Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs. 

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About Tidelands Health
Tidelands Health, in collaboration with MUSC Health, is the region’s largest health care provider, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 70 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.