06/30/2026
This page reaches a lot of young families, so with the holiday weekend just around the corner, I wanted to share a quick but incredibly important reminder.
Every year around this time, I’m reminded of a conversation I had with an Emergency Room worker.
They told me they always dreaded the days surrounding the Fourth of July because the ER would inevitably be inundated with entirely preventable injuries. At first, I couldn’t think of what would cause such a dramatic spike during this specific week.
Then came the sobering explanation: the missing fingers, the severe eye trauma, and much worse, all resulting from amateur, backyard fireworks.
The data backs this up. It isn’t just a rare worst-case scenario; it’s a consistent holiday trend.
The Staggering Reality of Backyard Fireworks
According to recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
The Spike: On average, over 10,000 people are treated in emergency departments for firework-related injuries each year, with the vast majority occurring in the weeks surrounding July 4th.
The Victims: Children and young adults are the hardest hit. In fact, children under 15 years old account for about one-third of all fireworks injuries.
The Culprit: You might think big rockets are the main issue, but sparklers account for roughly one-quarter of all emergency room visits. They burn at temperatures hot enough to melt copper (around 2,000°F)—more than enough to instantly cause third-degree burns to a child.
My Recommendation: Leave it to the Pros
Resist the urge to put on a backyard show, and don't give in to the peer pressure.
Instead, take your family to a professional fireworks display. Even then, maintain a safe, reasonable distance. The health, safety, and well-being of your children and grandchildren far outweigh the fleeting thrill of getting up close and personal with what are, beneath the bright colors, essentially small combat-grade explosives.
Let’s keep the holiday memorable for the right reasons. Have a safe, happy, and healthy Fourth of July!
