Fireworks can cause a variety of damages to people and things.
People use fireworks at festive celebrations and occasionally for general recreation, but the combination of live explosions, lack of safety information and unpreparedness can result in damage to persons and things. Severe and sometimes permanent injuries are possible, in addition to expensive property damage. Personal safety and avoidance of fire hazards is essential and should be first priority when dealing with fireworks.
Injuries to Sense Organs Caused by Fireworks
Fireworks can injure eyes and ears. Hearing can become limited or dulled from eardrum damage. People near fireworks explosions sometimes experience deafness in the ear facing the explosion. In some cases, the deafness is permanent. Fireworks also can cause eye injuries, including scrapes, burns and foreign bodies in the eye. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an estimated 1/3 of eye injuries caused by fireworks result in permanent blindness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a majority of these injuries happen to people under age 20.
Burn Injuries to Bodily Extremities
Fireworks can cause scrapes and burns, resulting in scars and disfigurement. In extreme cases fireworks can cause lost body parts. Hands, wrists, arms, legs, ankles and feet are most frequently injured. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) bans the use of fireworks containing more than 50g of explosive material. Some aerial fireworks have up to 130g of explosive material, which in the case of malfunction could result in the loss of thinner or smaller body parts such as fingers, toes or ears.
Property Damage Caused by Fireworks
Fireworks can cause extensive property damage. Buildings of wood construction and cars are vulnerable to ignition by fireworks. Death can occur to people in these buildings or vehicles. Glass also has the potential to be easily shattered by fireworks nearby.
Damage to Nature Caused by Fireworks
Fireworks can start wildfires and injure animals. Dry conditions can cause grasses and trees to become brittle and flammable. Wind can exacerbate wildfires, helping them expand rapidly. Because of the unrestricted aspect of forests and fields, wildfires have the potential to spread quite quickly, destroying large areas of natural habitat and endangering people and houses in the area. Wildfires are also difficult to control and stop, frequently involving airborne efforts.
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