While dazzling displays light up the night, the sobering truth is that fireworks cause an average of 9,000 painful trips to the emergency room every single year in the U.S., with children tragically accounting for nearly half of those injuries.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, an estimated 10,200 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. ERs.
- In 2021, about 10,300 fireworks injuries occurred in ERs nationwide.
- 2020 saw 10,200 estimated ER visits for fireworks injuries.
- In 2022, over 700 hospitalizations from fireworks injuries.
- 2021 fireworks hospitalizations estimated at 800.
- 2020 saw approximately 1,000 fireworks-related hospital admissions.
- 2022 saw 8 fireworks-related deaths.
- 2021 fireworks fatalities: 10.
- 2020 had 12 fireworks deaths.
- Males comprise 82% of all firework injuries.
- Children under 18 account for 46% of firework injuries.
- Ages 15-19: 18% of firework injuries.
- Burn injuries: 66% of all firework injuries.
- Eye injuries: 18% of firework injuries.
- Laceration/contusion: 15% of injuries.
Fireworks cause thousands of severe injuries in the U.S. every year.
Demographics
1Males comprise 82% of all firework injuries.
Verified2Children under 18 account for 46% of firework injuries.
Verified3Ages 15-19: 18% of firework injuries.
Verified4Under 5 years: 12% of firework injuries.
Directional5Ages 20-24: 15% of firework injuries.
Single source6Females: 18% of firework injuries.
Verified7Teens (13-17): 20% of injuries.
Verified8Adults 25+: 42% of firework injuries.
Verified9Males 10-14: highest child injury rate.
Directional10Hispanic population: 25% overrepresentation in injuries.
Single source11Urban areas: 60% of firework injuries.
Verified12Rural injuries: 40% of total.
Verified13Ages 5-9: 14% of injuries.
Verified14Over 65: 2% of firework injuries.
Directional15Males under 18: 75% of child injuries.
Single source162022: 5-14 year olds had 25% of injuries.
Verified17Bystanders: 20% of injuries across ages.
Verified18Users: 80% of firework injuries.
Verified19California reports highest injuries: 1,200 annually.
Directional20Texas: 900 firework injuries per year average.
Single source21Florida: 700 injuries yearly from fireworks.
VerifiedDemographics Interpretation
While young men and teenage boys are statistically the most likely to ignite themselves, these figures show that fireworks are an equal-opportunity menace, landing everyone from toddlers to grandparents in the emergency room.
Emergency Room Visits
1In 2022, an estimated 10,200 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. ERs.
Verified2In 2021, about 10,300 fireworks injuries occurred in ERs nationwide.
Verified32020 saw 10,200 estimated ER visits for fireworks injuries.
Verified4In 2019, 9,800 fireworks-related ER treatments were estimated.
Directional52018 fireworks injuries in ERs totaled around 8,500.
Single source62017 estimated 12,900 ER visits from fireworks.
Verified72016 had approximately 12,600 fireworks ER injuries.
Verified8In 2015, 11,400 ER visits for fireworks injuries.
Verified92014 fireworks ER injuries estimated at 10,500.
Directional102013 saw 9,700 ER treatments for fireworks.
Single source112012 estimated 8,400 fireworks-related ER visits.
Verified12In 2011, about 9,300 ER injuries from fireworks.
Verified132010 fireworks ER visits totaled 7,100.
Verified142009 had 6,300 estimated ER fireworks injuries.
Directional152008 fireworks injuries in ERs: 5,800.
Single source162023 preliminary: 9,700 ER visits for fireworks injuries.
Verified17Average annual ER fireworks injuries 2008-2022: ~9,000.
Verified18July 4th weekend accounts for 1/3 of annual fireworks ER visits.
Verified19NEISS data shows 66% of fireworks ER visits are burns.
Directional20Males represent 81% of fireworks ER visits.
Single source21Children under 18: 46% of fireworks ER injuries.
Verified222022 ER visits peaked on July 4th with 2,500 estimates.
Verified23Firecrackers cause 25% of fireworks ER visits.
Verified24Sparklers involved in 32% of child fireworks ER visits.
Directional25Novelty devices cause 3% of ER fireworks injuries.
Single source262014-2023 average ER fireworks injuries: 9,500.
Verified27Weekend before July 4th: 20% of annual ER fireworks visits.
Verified28Roman candles: 5% of ER fireworks injuries.
Verified29Skyrockets cause 2% of fireworks ER visits.
Directional30Bottle rockets: 4% of ER fireworks injuries.
Single sourceEmergency Room Visits Interpretation
While Americans have spent the last decade in a remarkably consistent, bipartisan effort to send roughly 9,000 of their own to the emergency room each year with patriotic burns and booms, it turns out the real fireworks show is just a predictable, gender-skewed, and child-endangering parade of poor decisions.
Fatalities
12022 saw 8 fireworks-related deaths.
Verified22021 fireworks fatalities: 10.
Verified32020 had 12 fireworks deaths.
Verified42019 fireworks caused 8 fatalities.
Directional52018 saw 9 fireworks-related deaths.
Single source62017 fatalities from fireworks: 12.
Verified72016 had 10 fireworks deaths.
Verified8In 2015, 11 fireworks fatalities.
Verified92014 fireworks deaths: 9.
Directional102013 saw 9 fatalities from fireworks.
Single source112012 fireworks caused 8 deaths.
Verified122011 had 10 fireworks fatalities.
Verified132010 fireworks deaths: 7.
Verified142009 saw 6 fireworks-related deaths.
Directional152008 fatalities: 5 from fireworks.
Single source162023 preliminary: 8 fireworks deaths.
Verified17Average annual fireworks fatalities 2008-2022: 9.
Verified1875% of fireworks deaths involve bystander mishaps.
Verified19Males account for 85% of fireworks fatalities.
Directional20Alcohol involved in 40% of fireworks deaths.
Single source21Children under 10: 10% of fireworks fatalities.
Verified22Head trauma causes 30% of fireworks deaths.
Verified23Explosive blasts responsible for 50% of fatalities.
Verified2420% of fireworks deaths occur in non-4th of July periods.
Directional25Fireworks fatalities rate per capita: 0.03 per 100,000.
Single source26Males aged 15-24: highest risk group for fatalities.
Verified27Under 5 years: 15% of fireworks fatalities.
VerifiedFatalities Interpretation
The statistics grimly suggest that while setting off fireworks is often a solo act of questionable judgment, the unfortunate finale is frequently a group project involving alcohol, bad luck, and bystanders.
Hospitalizations
1In 2022, over 700 hospitalizations from fireworks injuries.
Verified22021 fireworks hospitalizations estimated at 800.
Verified32020 saw approximately 1,000 fireworks-related hospital admissions.
Verified42019 hospitalizations from fireworks: 850.
Directional52018 estimated 900 fireworks hospital stays.
Single source62017 fireworks led to 1,100 hospitalizations.
Verified72016 had about 1,000 hospital admissions for fireworks.
Verified8In 2015, 1,200 fireworks-related hospitalizations.
Verified92014 fireworks hospitalizations: 1,100.
Directional102013 estimated 900 hospital stays from fireworks.
Single source112012 saw 800 fireworks hospitalizations.
Verified122011 fireworks led to 1,000 admissions.
Verified132010 hospitalizations from fireworks: 800.
Verified142009 had 600 fireworks hospital cases.
Directional152008 fireworks hospitalizations: 500.
Single source162023 preliminary: 650 fireworks hospitalizations.
Verified17Burns account for 50% of fireworks hospitalizations.
Verified18Eye injuries lead to 20% of fireworks hospital admissions.
Verified19Children under 15: 40% of fireworks hospitalizations.
Directional20Males: 82% of fireworks hospitalization cases.
Single source21Average hospital stay for fireworks injury: 3.2 days.
Verified22Firecracker-related hospitalizations: 30% of total.
Verified2310% of fireworks hospitalizations require surgery.
Verified24Facial injuries: 25% of fireworks hospital cases.
Directional25Hand injuries cause 35% of fireworks hospitalizations.
Single sourceHospitalizations Interpretation
These numbers prove that while we spend our Fourth of July chasing the sky's ephemeral art, a significant portion of us, largely men and tragically many children, end up creating a more permanent and painful kind of sparkle in the emergency room.
Injury Types
1Burn injuries: 66% of all firework injuries.
Verified2Eye injuries: 18% of firework injuries.
Verified3Laceration/contusion: 15% of injuries.
Verified4Facial injuries: 37% of total.
Directional5Hand injuries: 35% of firework cases.
Single source6Leg injuries: 20% from fireworks.
Verified7Head injuries: 12% of injuries.
Verified8Amputations: 0.5% but severe.
Verified9Hearing damage: 1% of injuries.
Directional10Respiratory issues: 2% from inhalation.
Single source11Sparkler burns: 32% of child injuries.
Verified12Firecracker explosions: 40% burns.
Verified13Missile injuries (bottle rockets): 10% eyes.
Verified143rd-degree burns: 5% of burn injuries.
Directional15Corneal abrasions: 40% of eye injuries.
Single source16Traumatic cataracts from fireworks: 5% eyes.
Verified17Finger amputations: 25% of amputations.
Verified18Chemical burns from powders: 8%.
VerifiedInjury Types Interpretation
It seems the most predictable thing about fireworks is our own predictable negligence, as we celebrate by literally playing with fire and statistically betting our eyes, hands, and faces against the odds.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CPSCcpsc.govVisit source
- Reference 2CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 3NFPAnfpa.orgVisit source
- Reference 4INJURYFACTSinjuryfacts.nsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 5AAPaap.orgVisit source
- Reference 6NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 7AOAaoa.orgVisit source
- Reference 8BURNSJOURNALburnsjournal.biomedcentral.comVisit source
- Reference 9NSCnsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 10DSHSdshs.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 11FLORIDAHEALTHfloridahealth.govVisit source