As the skies prepare to light up with the celebratory glow of fireworks this Fourth of July, the Eden Prairie Police Department (EPPD) urges the public to prioritize safety. With the festivities fast approaching, it's crucial to remember that fireworks, while spectacular, can pose serious risks. Citing data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), recent numbers indicate a staggering tally of eight deaths and 9,700 injuries related to fireworks across the nation last year, with hands and fingers being the most common casualties, as reported by the City of Eden Prairie, MN.
Last year's figures highlighted by the CPSC also reveal an alarming statistic that teenagers, particularly those aged 15–19, had the highest rate of injuries, closely followed by the relatively young age bracket of children between 5–9, as per the City of Eden Prairie, MN. To foster a safer environment this year, the CSPC has proffered several tips to reduce the risk of firework-related incidents. Among the recommendations is the unequivocal warning to never allow the playing with or igniting of fireworks by young children, including seemingly innocuous sparklers—capable of burning at temperatures rivaling molten metals.
For those who choose to engage in the traditional pyrotechnic displays, the following precautions can act as a lifeline: maintain a water source to douse flames or errant sparks—which, the CPSC adds, should include having either a bucket of water or a garden hose at the ready, as detailed by the City of Eden Prairie, MN. Additionally, they advise to light one firework at a time and retreat in haste, to not attempt re-igniting poorly functioning fireworks, but to soak and dispose of them instead, and to ensure that no part of the body is ever dangerously positioned atop an active firework.
