Each July 4th, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks - devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death.
Watch: Attending a professional fireworks show may not be possible this year, but that doesn't change the fact that consumer fireworks are dangerous.
You can also download the fireworks safety tip sheet in Spanish. (PDF)
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A three-year old boy, Michael Shannon, was killed when a legal consumer firework struck him in the head during a July Fourth family celebration. Michael's parents and sister talk about their memories of Michael, the pain they've endured in the years since his death, and their hope that parents will understand the danger of consumer fireworks. Share this video.
NFPA's Dan Doofus urges people not to use consumer fireworks because they are too dangerous. Fireworks are responsible for thousands of fires and injuries each year. Share this video.
Fireworks fire & injury facts
- Fireworks started an estimated 12,264 fires in 2021, including 2,082 structure fires, 316 vehicle fires, and 9,866 outside and other fires. These fires caused 29 civilian injuries and $59 million in direct property damage. There were no reported fire deaths.
- In 2021, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 11,500 people for fireworks related injuries; over half of those injuries were to the extremities and 35% were to the eye or other parts of the head.
- Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for almost one-quarter (23%) of the estimated 2021 injuries. These injury estimates were obtained or derived from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2021 Fireworks Annual Report.
Source: NFPA’s
Fireworks Fires and Injuries report