Fires are caused by careless handling of fireworks in areas exposed to sparks or live fireworks. The Fourth of July also is responsible for many burn injuries associated with premature detonation or misuse of fireworks. The Maricopa County Burn Unit reports the most burn injuries on the Fourth of July. These are only the numbers of fireworks injuries reported to hospital emergency rooms. Because many injuries are not treated in emergency rooms, experts believe the total number of fireworks injuries may be far more.
Most fireworks burn injuries involve children.
These are usually burns to the hands and eyes causing vision impairment and disfiguring scars. Sparklers are the biggest danger to children. A tip temperature at the end of the sparkler reaches 1800 degrees Fahrenheit and can easily cause a burn. Yes, people can die from fireworks and the fires they cause. That's a large improvement compared to 1902, when fireworks were legal in most states.