A Virginia Tech injury prevention expert is warning fireworks enthusiasts to be careful this holiday weekend as the celebration can quickly lead to serious injury or death.
The lights in the sky are usually the grand finale of July Fourth celebrations, but as dazzling as they are, expert Stefan Duma says they pose serious risks.
“Fireworks are dangerous,” said Duma. “They look simple, they look easy, but there is a high risk, especially around July 4.”
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 11 deaths and nearly 15,000 fireworks-related injuries last year.
Duma said to reduce the risk of injury, there should be a “designated” person who, like a designated driver, agrees to stay sober for the celebration.
“The way you might have a designated driver at the bar, have a designated fireworks person. Alcohol and fireworks don’t mix, and that’s where most of the problems come from,” he said.
Duma: July Fourth fireworks safety tips
- Keep an eye on the kids: Most parents won’t let their kids light the candles on their birthday cake. Yet around July Fourth, we hand them a bag of fireworks and let them go play with those.
- Obey state laws: Virginia has very restrictive firework rules. You have to be 18 to buy them, and there are no projectile ones for sale. That reduces the number of eye injuries in Virginia. Other states that allow projectile bottle rockets have much higher rates of injuries.
- Avoid aerial projectiles: In Virginia, where projectile fireworks are outlawed, there are still fountain ones. You can still get burned using them, but you don’t have the risk of eye injuries. In other states, you can buy what are called mortar rounds that you load into tubes. They explode in the sky, and there are a lot of risks with these, including losing your fingers.
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Crystal Graham
