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Each year in the United States, around the Fourth of July holiday, approximately 8,500 people are injured by fireworks. Instead of using fireworks at home, the Minnesota-based Sight & Hearing Association says the safest way to view fireworks is through professionally conducted, community-sponsored fireworks displays.
Here are a few facts to keep in mind:
Nearly half of the 8,500 injuries each year are to children younger than 15.
The hands (40 percent), eyes (20 percent) and head and face (20 percent) are the body areas most often injured.
Approximately one-third of eye injuries from fireworks result in permanent blindness.
40 percent of injuries are inflicted on innocent bystanders.
Bottle rockets, which can fly as fast as 200 mph and have an unpredictable flight pattern, are the most dangerous type of firework. In addition, the bottles or cans used to launch the rockets often explode, showering fragments of glass or metal.
According to the United States Eye Injury Registry, in 2000, 67% of injuries were from bottle rockets, 7% from firecrackers, 4% from Roman candles, and 22% were either unknown or other fireworks.
Sparklers, often given to young children, burn at 1,800 degree Fahrenheit - a temperature hot enough to melt gold.
Fireworks injuries most often occur between June 29 and July 5.
"Read a personal story about a fireworks injury."
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Fireworks Eye Safety