- Author
- Hall, J. R., Jr.
- Title
- Fireworks.
- Coporate
- National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA
- Report
- NFPA PSS18, June 2009, 62 p.
- Keywords
- fireworks accidents | fire statistics | death | injuries | risks | costs
- Abstract
- In 2007, 9,800 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. The trend in fireworks-related injuries has been mostly up since 1996, with spikes in 2000-2001, primarily due to celebrations around the advent of a new millennium, and in 2005. The highest injury rates were for children aged 5 to 9 and 10 to 14. In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were started by fireworks. These fires resulted in 6 civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $34 million in direct property damage. In 2007, more than nine out of ten (92%) emergency room fireworks injuries involved fireworks that Federal regulations permit consumers to use. The risk of fire death relative to exposure shows fireworks to be the riskiest consumer product.