CHRISTUS Health is encouraging everyone to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday safely by providing fireworks safety tips.  

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there were eight deaths and more than 9,000 injuries involving fireworks in 2023. About 800 emergency room injuries were associated with firecrackers and about 700 with sparklers.  

Dr. Ryan Brown, CHRISTUS Highland Hospital emergency room director, said it’s important to follow safety precautions when preparing to celebrate with fireworks.

“Fireworks can be extremely dangerous and without proper precautions, injuries can happen in an instant,” he said. “Injuries can range from minor to severe burns, loss of limbs or vision. These could lead to permanent and devastating consequences.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, a quarter of fireworks injuries can be attributed to children using sparklers.  

Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees. They can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. 

Brown said when appropriate safety precautions are followed, you can enjoy fireworks responsibly and significantly reduce injuries. 

“Some of the biggest safety tips are reading instructions carefully, always use under adult supervision, never use indoors, wear appropriate protective gear, including safety glasses, and avoid alcohol use during fireworks,” Brown said. “Impaired judgment can lead to increase in accident and injuries. It’s also important to remember to keep your pets indoors to prevent them from injuring themselves or causing injury to others.”

Experts recommend you obey local laws and guidelines and to also keep a bucket of water or hose nearby in case of an accident.

Brown said, “Independence Day is always a great time to celebrate with fireworks. However, they must be handled with the utmost respect and care to avoid bodily harm.”