Celebrate Safely this Independence Day

CLEVELAND – This Fourth of July enjoy fireworks while practicing safe habits to ensure a fun holiday for all. University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Injury Prevention Center advises a few cautionary measures to make the holiday memorable.

"It’s important to remember that while fireworks may be legal in Ohio, they still aren’t safe," says UH Rainbow Injury Prevention Center Manager, Jennifer Walker. "Even scarier is when people combine alcohol with fireworks or driving. We typically see an increase in hospital visits due to impaired driving and prohibited firework use over this holiday weekend so we want to make sure safety remains top of mind."

According to a 2023 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report, fireworks were involved in an estimated 9,700 injuries treated in the U.S. and responsible for eight deaths. The report shows between 2008 and 2023, injuries from fireworks have increased overall.

About 42 percent of injuries treated in emergency departments were for burns, with injuries to the hands and fingers as the most common followed by injuries to the head, face, and ears.

And every year, the Fourth of July holiday stands out as one of the deadliest times on the nation’s roads. In 2022, 487 people died in traffic crashes during the Fourth of July holiday period. Forty percent (196) of those fatalities occurred in drunk driving crashes. 

University Hospitals and CPSC encourage safe practices for a happy celebration.

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals
• Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose close by, in case of fire
• Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting
• Move to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks
• Never point or throw fireworks (including sparklers) at anyone
• After fireworks complete their burning, to prevent a trash fire, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device
• Plan ahead for a safe and sober ride home from your 4^th of July festivities