As Independence Day approaches, the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association (SMVFA) is reminding residents to put safety first when celebrating with fireworks. What starts as a festive tradition can quickly become dangerous when fireworks are mishandled or malfunction.

In 2024, fireworks-related incidents led to 11 deaths and approximately 14,700 injuries nationwide—significant increases of 38% and 52% respectively compared to 2023. Sparklers alone accounted for about 1,700 emergency room visits, underscoring the risk of even seemingly safe items.

Adults ages 25 to 44 experienced the most injuries (32%), followed by individuals ages 15 to 24 (24%). Hands and fingers were the most commonly injured areas (36%), followed by the head, face, and ears (22%). Burns made up the majority of injuries, accounting for 37% of ER visits.

“These aren’t just statistics—each one represents a person, a family, and often, a preventable injury,” said SMVFA officials. “We want everyone to enjoy the holiday, but safely and responsibly.”

Fireworks Safety Tips from SMVFA:

Never allow young children to handle or light fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures near 2,000°F.

Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose close by in case of fire or malfunction.

Make sure fireworks are legal in your area and only use those labeled for consumer use.

Avoid using fireworks under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Light fireworks one at a time and move away quickly.

Never try to relight fireworks that don’t go off.

Read and follow all safety instructions on the packaging.

This July 4th, SMVFA encourages all community members to celebrate safely and help prevent needless injuries.

Fire Prevention Tip: Sparklers can cause serious burns—closely supervise children or consider safer alternatives like glow sticks.