June 23, 2022
The Fourth of July holiday is fast approaching and once again Minnesota’s physicians want to remind their fellow residents to leave the lighting of fireworks to the professionals.
“We urge Minnesotans to play it safe and let the experts handle the fireworks this summer,” said MMA President Randy Rice, MD. “Every year, many Minnesotans are injured and wind up in the emergency department because of injuries caused by fireworks.”
According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission an estimated 15,600 fireworks-related injuries were treated in emergency departments in 2020. Eighteen people died because of these injuries. This is a 50% increase in deaths and injuries between 2019 and 2020.
Nearly 45% of the injuries were burns. Sixteen hundred people were hurt by firecrackers, and 900 were hurt by seemingly harmless sparklers. The parts of the body most often injured were hands and fingers (an estimated 30%); head, face, and ears (an estimated 22%); and eyes (an estimated 15%).
About the Minnesota Medical Association
The Minnesota Medical Association is a non-profit professional association representing physicians, residents and medical students. With more than 11,000 members, the MMA is dedicated to being the leading voice of medicine to make Minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.
September 30, 2026
Dania Kamp MD, of Sturgeon Lake, was installed as the Minnesota Medical Association’s (MMA) 160th president on September 25, during the association’s Empowering Physicians event at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Her term, which officially begins October 1, lasts one year.
September 29, 2026
Five physicians, two physicians-in-training, a state senator, and two firearm safety advocacy organizations were all honored with Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) awards as part of the association’s Empowering Physicians event on September 25. Each year, the MMA honors those in medicine for going above and beyond.
June 29, 2026
This Fourth of July, Minnesota physicians are once again urging their fellow Minnesotans to leave the fireworks up to the professionals.