As America gets ready to celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 4, festivities are expected to be bigger and brighter, with more fireworks lighting up the sky. But excitement surrounding this milestone also brings increased safety risks.
In 2025, an estimated 13,000 Americans were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, including 1,300 injuries involving sparklers, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Thirty-eight percent of those injuries were burns, with 35% affecting hands and fingers and 22% affecting the head, face and ears.
Jennifer Roye, assistant dean for simulation and technology and clinical associate professor at The University of Texas at Arlington's College of Nursing and Health Innovation, draws on 16 years of emergency department nursing experience at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth to share safety insights and best practices.
"The Fourth of July should be a time for celebration, not a trip to the emergency room," Dr. Roye said. "A little planning, close supervision, and proactive and preventative actions can help keep everyone, including pets, safe while we enjoy the holiday."
What are the most common fireworks-related injuries?
Roye: Burns are the most common, especially to the hands and fingers, along with eye injuries from sparks and debris. Burns to the feet can also occur, especially when people are barefoot or wearing sandals and step on hot fireworks, sparklers or smoldering debris. That's a good reminder to wear closed-toe shoes and keep the area clear after fireworks are used. We also see cuts, hearing damage and occasionally severe hand injuries when fireworks explode unexpectedly.
Who is most at risk for fireworks-related injuries?
Roye: Children, teenagers and young adults tend to be at higher risk because they are more likely to handle fireworks directly, underestimate the danger, or lack supervision. Even sparklers can burn at about 2,000 degrees, making them hazardous for young children. Bystanders are also vulnerable. People don't have to light a firework to be injured—sparks, debris, or tipped fireworks can travel unpredictably. Alcohol use further increases risk by impairing judgment and reaction time.
What can families do to stay safe if they use fireworks at home?
Roye: Families should first make sure fireworks are legal in their area and use only products labeled for consumer use. If conditions have been dry or windy, check for any burn bans in effect. Choose a clear outdoor space away from homes, dry grass, vehicles and trees, and keep bystanders at a safe distance. Only a sober adult should light fireworks, one at a time. Never hold a lit firework, point it toward another person or try to relight one that does not go off. Keep a garden hose or bucket of water nearby, and soak used fireworks before throwing them away.
Families should also make a plan for their pets. My dog does not like fireworks at all, so I know firsthand how stressful the noise can be for them. Keep pets indoors in a quiet, secure room with familiar bedding, toys or background noise to help them feel safe. Honestly, the safest family option is a professional fireworks display, where trained experts handle the sparkle and everyone else keeps all 10 fingers.
What should you do if someone is injured by a firework?
Roye: First, stop the fireworks show and move the injured person away from the area. For a minor burn, remove any clothing or jewelry that is not stuck to the skin and cool the area under clean, cool running water. Do not use ice or butter. Call 911 or seek emergency care for severe burns, uncontrolled bleeding, breathing problems, amputations or injuries involving the face, hands, major joints or a large area of the body. For an eye injury, do not rub or rinse the eye, don't apply pressure, and don't try to remove anything that is stuck. Loosely protect the eye and get emergency medical care immediately.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
