The Consumer Product Safety Commission, an arm of the federal government, has released a new report detailing the many mishaps that occurred with fireworks in 2023.
The deaths detailed in the report relate to non-professional use of consumer and homemade fireworks.
Emergency room doctors stay busy during the summer, especially around July 4th.
Memorial Hermann Medical Group’s, Dr. Benedict Ifedi, recommends leaving the fireworks to professionals, but at the very least, practice safe handling.
“When using fireworks, make sure that only adults operate the fireworks. Never place your body directly over the fireworks. Hold a firework in your hand while lighting it. That’s going to increase the risk of hand injuries, eye injuries, or other catastrophic things that we want to avoid. Make sure that you have a cold or just a bucket of water to be able to extinguish the firework in, because one of the biggest risks that can happen is after a firework is out,” Dr. Ifedi said Friday.