Play it safe this Fourth of July, let the experts handle the fireworks

June 23, 2025

This Fourth of July, Minnesota physicians are urging their fellow Minnesotans to leave the fireworks up to the professionals. 

“Every summer we hear too many sad stories about people getting hurt by fireworks,” said MMA President Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA. “This year, please stay away from firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, sparklers and all of those dangerous items. It’s better to be safe, than sorry.” 

According to the latest statistics (2023) from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), hands and fingers were the most often injured body parts (35%), followed by heads, face and ears (22%), eyes (19%), trunk (11%), and legs (8%). In 2023, there were 9,700 people treated in ERs and eight deaths. 

According to the CPSC, teenagers ages 15 to 19 years old had the highest estimated rate of emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries, with children ages 5 to 9 years old had the second highest rate. 

 There were an estimated 800 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 700 with sparklers. 

“Fireworks are an annual tradition,” Bogonko said. “But it's a dangerous one, if not done correctly. Fireworks can result in severe burns, blindness, scars, and even death. Please leave them to the professionals who can take all the necessary safety precautions.”