Fireworks: Dangerous to use

The numbers tell the tale. From Prevent Blindness America, here are the facts about fireworks:

In 2010, 8,600 people were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries.

There were three fireworks-related deaths. 6,300 of the injuries (73 percent) occurred during a one-month period around the Fourth of July holiday.

Sparklers (1,200), firecrackers (900), and bottle rockets (400) accounted for the most injuries last year.

The parts of the body most often injured were hands and fingers (estimated 1,900 injuries), legs (1,400), eyes (1,300), and the head, face and ears (1,000).

Bottle rockets, firecrackers, sparklers and Roman candles account for most eye injuries.

Sparklers, often given to young children, burn at 2000 degrees or even hotter, hot enough to melt copper.

For children under the age of five, sparklers accounted for the largest number of estimated injuries in that age group, with 300 injuries (43% of the total).

The major causes of injuries are due to delayed or early fireworks explosions, errant flight paths of rockets, debris from aerial fireworks, and mishandling of sparklers.

Fireworks cautions

* Don’t put firecrackers in a bottle, can, or container of any kind.

* Choose a site that is away from flammable material.

* Keep a bucket of water handy to put out grass fires and fireworks that don’t go off. Never try to relight them.

* Never touch a ‘dud’ firecracker or rocket. Douse with water.

* Any eye injury should be seen by an emergency room doctor. Never press, rub, or touch an injured eye.