July 4th is once again upon us, and in the U.S. that means a whole gaggle of “Fireworks are dangerous–EVERYBODY PANIC!” stories in the mainstream media.
But are they really that dangerous? The federal U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission published a report in 2006 on fireworks-related injuries in the U.S. They most recent data they used was from 2005.
And just how many people are injured by fireworks? Not many.
The total number comes straight from the report. The “Severe” number I calculated based on this statement in the report:
Although most of the fireworks-related injuries were characterized as “treat and release,” an estimated 5 percent… were treated and transferred to another hospital, admitted or held for observation. This is about the same as consumer products in general.
Which means that in 2005, about 1 person in every 500,000 was injured by fireworks severely enough to be at least held overnight in the hospital.
Also note the little tidbit “This is about the same as consumer products in general.” While fireworks are (presumably) more likely to injure you than other consumer products, the severity of the injuries is not any worse.
In other words, fireworks are more likely to give you a boo-boo than other toys.
But the ultimate irony, is that sparklers–which many parents give their kids to keep them away from the “more dangerous” fireworks–are the primary cause of injuries in small children. According to the the CPSC report, “Sparklers accounted for almost half the injuries to children under 5.”
But what about death? Don’t people die from fireworks? Yes, they do. In 2005, four people died. And two of those died when fireworks started a fire inside a vehicle, in one case causing the driver to run into a telephone pole. For comparison, every year about 900 people die in bicycle crashes.
Yes, fireworks are dangerous. But they aren’t so amazingly dangerous that everyone should PANIC come the 4th of July. You don’t need to bundle your kids up in bubble-wrap and lock them in the basement with a mister of water over the heads. Just pay attention, and teach them how not to be idiots.
A 37-year-old Colorado man was standing on his apartment balcony with a friend holding a launching tube that was loaded with an artillery shell type firework. After the fuse was lit, the firework exploded but may not have launched from the tube. After the explosion, the victim dropped to the balcony. According to police there was a bruise on the victim’s chest that matched the base on the launcher tube. The victim died from a torn aorta.
225 times more people die every year riding bikes than from fireworks. Outlaw bikes?
This story has been submitted to Stirrdup. Your support can help it become hot.
When I was 7, I blew up my neighbor’s garage with some fireworks. I had to spend some time in juvenile hall because of it, but it was worth it. When I was 10, I thought I’d put the past behind me, but my rage disorder came back and I placed some sparklers in the pesty neighbor’s boy’s buttocks. His butt ignited in a wild blaze. Needless to say, I spent more time in juvie. Anyhow, good blog. I hope everyone is careful.
[...] If you blow your leg off, don’t come running to me July 4th is once again upon us, and in the U.S. that means a whole gaggle of “Fireworks are […] [...]
Sheer brilliance.
It always amazed me that the bottle-rocket fights my friends and I used to have* never resulted in death or dismemberment. Some days I can’t figure out how I made it to age 30.
*’used to’ can, and in this case does, mean up to and including last week.
I’ve always preferred the warning, “You’ll put your eye out with that.”
[...] Since apparently fireworks don’t kill kids, I started wondering “What [...]
“It always amazed me that the bottle-rocket fights my friends and I used to have* never resulted in death or dismemberment. Some days I can’t figure out how I made it to age 30.
–jessecuster”
Anyone else find it amusing that the guy in jesse’s avatar has an eye patch?*
(*Note that I also participated in such activities … up to and including this week. :) )
Great post, BTW. As someone who lives in an area where fireworks are 100% legal, I’ve noticed more people not just lighting them off, but being pretty damn smart while doing so. So many of us 30-somethings grew up celebrating the 4th with explosives that we learned how to be safe with them (some times the hard way). I guess it’s the ‘ol “exposure breeds familiarity” theory.
I love your comparison. It’s funny b/c I just saw the news and the city police make a huge stink about it on the news. I was like ‘what’s the big deal?’
Dada-
It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Then it becomes a sport!
I’m in full agreement with you there. The News no longer exists to inform, only to get ratings for advertising dollars.
The number of calls for assistance from the Fire Department do increase dramatically on the 4th, upwards of 400%, but they are usually for small grass fires that could be put out with a garden hose if people would quit freaking out for two seconds, or had thought to keep a bucket of water nearby.