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FINDINGS
 Injuries from fireworks-most of which occur around the 4th of July-increased from 8,800 in 2002 to 9,300 in 2003. Over the past 13 years, however, the injury rate has fallen 37% - from 4.3 to 3.2 injuries per 100,000 population.
State laws regulating the sale of fireworks directly affect the occurrence of fireworks related injuries.
Children under the age of 15 suffered 45% of all injuries from fireworks. Most injuries (72%) are to males of all ages.
Firecrackers were responsible for the greatest number of injuries (1,600) in 2003, followed by bottle rockets (1,000) and sparklers (700).
Because most fires ignited by fireworks are to outside property, the dollar loss to these fires is substantially less than the other lost to structure fires.
It would be hard to imagine July 4th festivities in the United States without public display of fireworks, and a number of other holidays, such as New Years, offer call for big shows as well. But celebrations can become tragic when someone is injured by consumer fireworks. Despite federal and state regulations on the type of fireworks available for sale to the general public, even those fireworks that are sold legally carry an elevated risk of personal injury.
Fireworks are considered hazardous materials with the potential to cause serious injury. All fireworks are regulated by the Federal Hazardous Substance Act, which prohibits sale of the more dangerous types to the public to avoid injury and property damage. Among these banned products are large, reloadable mortar shells, cherry bombs, aerial bombs. M-80, and large firecrackers with more than 2 grains of powder. Likewise, all mail order kits to construct fireworks are strictly prohibited.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulates fireworks that can be sold legally to consumers and is responsible for setting minimum standards, such as requiring firecrackers to have fuses that burn at least 3 seconds but not more than 9 seconds, and that all devices be sealed to prevent leakage of pyrotechnic material. Further, all legal fireworks must have labels with instructions for safe use, as well as warnings and precautions.
Although these regulations and standard have helped make consumer fireworks safe, all fireworks are potentially hazardous. For example, sparklers, which are legal in the majority of states, burn at temperatures of approximately 2,000 F. Their colorful sparks belie the potential dangers, and yet sparklers are predominately used by young children.
Federal, state, and local laws govern the manufacture and sale of legal fireworks (Class C). As of March 1, 2004, 37 states and the District of Columbia allowed some or all types of consumer fireworks, an increase of five states since January 2001 (Figure 1). Meanwhile six states allow only sparklers or other such novelties. Seven states ban all fireworks, including those allowed and regulated by the CPSC.
FIGURE 1 STATE REGULATIONS OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS
STATES THAT PERMIT CONSUMER FIREWORKS
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
Nevada
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
STATES THAT ALLOW ONLY SPARKLERS
ILLINOIS
IOWA
MAINE
OHIO
PENNSYLVANIA
VERMONT
STATES THAT BAN ALL CONSUMER FIREWORKS
ARIZONA
DELAWARE
GEORGIA
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK
MASSACHUSETTS
RHODE ISLAND
Previous studies have indicated that state laws regulating the sale of fireworks directly affect the occurrence of fireworks related injuries. In one state, the number of injuries seen in emergency departments more than doubled following the legalization of fireworks.
INJURIES FROM FIREWORKS
In 2003, firework devices cause approximately 9,300 injuries, an increase from 8,800 injuries
in 2002. The vast majority
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