Expert from Le Bonheur Children’s Shares Life-Saving Tips on Keeping Kids Safe from Firework Injuries

About Le Bonheur Children’s

Le Bonheur Children’s, based in Memphis, Tenn., provides expert care for children in more than 45 pediatric subspecialties, encompassing robust community programs, a pediatric research institute and regional outpatient centers in Jackson, Tenn., Tupelo, Miss., and Jonesboro, Ark. Le Bonheur also features a 290-bed hospital in Memphis and a 21-bed satellite hospital within Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. As the primary pediatric teaching affiliate for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur trains more than 350 pediatricians and specialists each year. Nationally recognized, Le Bonheur is a U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital, a Magnet-designated facility which is the ultimate high-quality patient care and nursing excellence credential and is verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level 1 Trauma Center and a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center.

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It is understood that fireworks pose inherent dangers, but special care should be taken to protect our families’ youngest members. In a 2023 special study performed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, minors under 15 years of age accounted for thirty-one percent of estimated firework-related injuries in the United States. Children aged 5 to 9 were one of the only age groups to see a rise in such injuries from the year prior, with an estimated eight hundred injuries within a single 30-day period. Minors aged 10 to 14 suffered an additional seven hundred injuries in the same amount of time.

Leaving Pyrotechnics to the Pros

The best way to keep your family safe with fireworks is to leave it to the professionals. Do not use them at home; attend public fireworks displays instead. And while sparklers may seem like a staple of Fourth of July celebrations, they are not safe for children. “We think that because they aren’t designed to jettison in any way, they are safe for kids to handle,” says Jennifer Taylor, manager of Injury Prevention and Safe Kids Mid-South. “Once you realize how hot they burn, that opinion changes quickly.” They burn at extremely hot temperatures— as much as 2,000 degrees F°—and are hot enough to melt glass and cause serious eye injuries and burns.

If you do decide to light fireworks yourself, be extra cautious. Wear loose clothing when handling fireworks or matches and never use fireworks indoors. Always use fireworks outside, pointing them away from homes and people, and make sure you are far away from brush, leaves, dry grass, and flammable substances.

Safety First with Fireworks

Here are four tips your family should follow to keep kids safe from injury:

1. Keep Your Distance. Make sure everyone keeps a safe distance from fireworks that are being lit.
2. Do not Investigate. If a firework does not go off, do not stand over it. Have a bucket of water nearby to make sure it is out.
3. Prepare for Problems. According to the US Safety Commission sparklers can burn at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, as hot as a blow torch. In addition to posing serious safety risks, fireworks can also cause fires; in fact, burns made up 42% of all fireworks injuries in 2023, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and know how to operate it.
4. Dispose Safely. When you are done with the fireworks, douse the remains with a bucket of water before disposing of them to avoid a trash fire.

To learn more practical tips on keeping your kids safe from injury, visit Le Bonheur’s Practical Parenting Blog at https://www.lebonheur.org/blogs/practical-parenting

For more tips and resources to keep kids safe from injuries, please visit www.lebonheur.org/safekids.