About 5,000 of those injuries occurred during the one-month period surrounding the Fourth of July. Approximately 55 percent of the fireworks-related injuries were burns. Over 40 percent of the victims were under 15 years of age, and about 75 percent were male. The greatest number of eye injuries was associated with rockets. Sparklers are the second highest cause of fireworks eye injuries requiring a trip to the emergency room.
Sparklers can heat to temperatures that are hot enough to melt gold.
Data from the United States Eye Injury Registry shows that bystanders are more often injured by fireworks than operators themselves. Prevent Blindness America urges you to celebrate this Fourth of July safely. The booklet discusses the dangers of fireworks and offers safe alternatives to fireworks. Prevent Blindness America serves millions of people each year through public and professional education, community and patient services programs and research. Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, it's committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America.