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
- Males comprise 82% of all firework injuries.
- Children under 18 account for 46% of firework injuries.
- Ages 15-19: 18% of firework injuries.
- Under 5 years: 12% of firework injuries.
- Ages 20-24: 15% of firework injuries.
- Females: 18% of firework injuries.
- Teens (13-17): 20% of injuries.
- Adults 25+: 42% of firework injuries.
- Males 10-14: highest child injury rate.
- Hispanic population: 25% overrepresentation in injuries.
- Urban areas: 60% of firework injuries.
- Rural injuries: 40% of total.
- Ages 5-9: 14% of injuries.
- Over 65: 2% of firework injuries.
- Males under 18: 75% of child injuries.
- 2022: 5-14 year olds had 25% of injuries.
- Bystanders: 20% of injuries across ages.
- Users: 80% of firework injuries.
- California reports highest injuries: 1,200 annually.
- Texas: 900 firework injuries per year average.
- Florida: 700 injuries yearly from fireworks.
Demographics 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
- 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 2019, 9,800 fireworks-related ER treatments were estimated.
- 2018 fireworks injuries in ERs totaled around 8,500.
- 2017 estimated 12,900 ER visits from fireworks.
- 2016 had approximately 12,600 fireworks ER injuries.
- In 2015, 11,400 ER visits for fireworks injuries.
- 2014 fireworks ER injuries estimated at 10,500.
- 2013 saw 9,700 ER treatments for fireworks.
- 2012 estimated 8,400 fireworks-related ER visits.
- In 2011, about 9,300 ER injuries from fireworks.
- 2010 fireworks ER visits totaled 7,100.
- 2009 had 6,300 estimated ER fireworks injuries.
- 2008 fireworks injuries in ERs: 5,800.
- 2023 preliminary: 9,700 ER visits for fireworks injuries.
- Average annual ER fireworks injuries 2008-2022: ~9,000.
- July 4th weekend accounts for 1/3 of annual fireworks ER visits.
- NEISS data shows 66% of fireworks ER visits are burns.
- Males represent 81% of fireworks ER visits.
- Children under 18: 46% of fireworks ER injuries.
- 2022 ER visits peaked on July 4th with 2,500 estimates.
- Firecrackers cause 25% of fireworks ER visits.
- Sparklers involved in 32% of child fireworks ER visits.
- Novelty devices cause 3% of ER fireworks injuries.
- 2014-2023 average ER fireworks injuries: 9,500.
- Weekend before July 4th: 20% of annual ER fireworks visits.
- Roman candles: 5% of ER fireworks injuries.
- Skyrockets cause 2% of fireworks ER visits.
- Bottle rockets: 4% of ER fireworks injuries.
Emergency 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
- 2022 saw 8 fireworks-related deaths.
- 2021 fireworks fatalities: 10.
- 2020 had 12 fireworks deaths.
- 2019 fireworks caused 8 fatalities.
- 2018 saw 9 fireworks-related deaths.
- 2017 fatalities from fireworks: 12.
- 2016 had 10 fireworks deaths.
- In 2015, 11 fireworks fatalities.
- 2014 fireworks deaths: 9.
- 2013 saw 9 fatalities from fireworks.
- 2012 fireworks caused 8 deaths.
- 2011 had 10 fireworks fatalities.
- 2010 fireworks deaths: 7.
- 2009 saw 6 fireworks-related deaths.
- 2008 fatalities: 5 from fireworks.
- 2023 preliminary: 8 fireworks deaths.
- Average annual fireworks fatalities 2008-2022: 9.
- 75% of fireworks deaths involve bystander mishaps.
- Males account for 85% of fireworks fatalities.
- Alcohol involved in 40% of fireworks deaths.
- Children under 10: 10% of fireworks fatalities.
- Head trauma causes 30% of fireworks deaths.
- Explosive blasts responsible for 50% of fatalities.
- 20% of fireworks deaths occur in non-4th of July periods.
- Fireworks fatalities rate per capita: 0.03 per 100,000.
- Males aged 15-24: highest risk group for fatalities.
- Under 5 years: 15% of fireworks fatalities.
Fatalities 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
- In 2022, over 700 hospitalizations from fireworks injuries.
- 2021 fireworks hospitalizations estimated at 800.
- 2020 saw approximately 1,000 fireworks-related hospital admissions.
- 2019 hospitalizations from fireworks: 850.
- 2018 estimated 900 fireworks hospital stays.
- 2017 fireworks led to 1,100 hospitalizations.
- 2016 had about 1,000 hospital admissions for fireworks.
- In 2015, 1,200 fireworks-related hospitalizations.
- 2014 fireworks hospitalizations: 1,100.
- 2013 estimated 900 hospital stays from fireworks.
- 2012 saw 800 fireworks hospitalizations.
- 2011 fireworks led to 1,000 admissions.
- 2010 hospitalizations from fireworks: 800.
- 2009 had 600 fireworks hospital cases.
- 2008 fireworks hospitalizations: 500.
- 2023 preliminary: 650 fireworks hospitalizations.
- Burns account for 50% of fireworks hospitalizations.
- Eye injuries lead to 20% of fireworks hospital admissions.
- Children under 15: 40% of fireworks hospitalizations.
- Males: 82% of fireworks hospitalization cases.
- Average hospital stay for fireworks injury: 3.2 days.
- Firecracker-related hospitalizations: 30% of total.
- 10% of fireworks hospitalizations require surgery.
- Facial injuries: 25% of fireworks hospital cases.
- Hand injuries cause 35% of fireworks hospitalizations.
Hospitalizations 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
- Burn injuries: 66% of all firework injuries.
- Eye injuries: 18% of firework injuries.
- Laceration/contusion: 15% of injuries.
- Facial injuries: 37% of total.
- Hand injuries: 35% of firework cases.
- Leg injuries: 20% from fireworks.
- Head injuries: 12% of injuries.
- Amputations: 0.5% but severe.
- Hearing damage: 1% of injuries.
- Respiratory issues: 2% from inhalation.
- Sparkler burns: 32% of child injuries.
- Firecracker explosions: 40% burns.
- Missile injuries (bottle rockets): 10% eyes.
- 3rd-degree burns: 5% of burn injuries.
- Corneal abrasions: 40% of eye injuries.
- Traumatic cataracts from fireworks: 5% eyes.
- Finger amputations: 25% of amputations.
- Chemical burns from powders: 8%.
Injury 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