Fireworks Safety: What the Experts Want You to Know Before You Light the Fuse
Independence Day is one of the most celebrated holidays in America, and this year is especially significant as the nation marks its 250th anniversary. Backyard fireworks are practically synonymous with the holiday, but the same devices that light up the sky are responsible for thousands of preventable injuries every year. Whether your team is planning a company cookout, or your employees are simply gathering with family and friends, a little preparation goes a long way toward a safe celebration.
We pulled together the latest guidance from the organizations that track and study fireworks safety most closely, so you can celebrate smart this year.
The Numbers Behind the Risk
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 13,000 people were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in 2025, and at least 15 deaths were reported — most tied to misuse or a device misfiring or malfunctioning. Hands and fingers were the most frequently injured body parts (35% of cases), followed by the head, face, and ears (22%), with burns accounting for 38% of all ER visits.
Sparklers deserve special attention. Often handed to young children as the “safe” firework, sparklers burn at roughly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to melt some metals — and were responsible for an estimated 1,300 emergency room visits in 2025 alone.
The good news: the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) reports that injuries actually declined by about 12% between 2024 and 2025, even as consumer fireworks use hit record levels — a sign that product standards, testing, and public education are working. The bad news: illegal, homemade, or altered devices continue to cause a disproportionate share of the most severe injuries, hospitalizations, and amputations.
What the National Safety Council Recommends
The National Safety Council’s clearest advice is also its simplest: the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to leave them to the professionals. NSC encourages families to attend public displays run by licensed operators rather than using consumer fireworks at home. Beyond that top-line recommendation, NSC’s safety guidance includes:
- Never allow young children to handle or ignite fireworks, including sparklers
- Older children should only use them under close, direct adult supervision
- Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Anyone using or standing near fireworks should wear protective eyewear
- Never hold a lit firework in your hand or light one indoors
- Only light one device at a time, then move to a safe distance immediately
- Never try to relight or handle a “dud” — soak it and any spent fireworks in water for several hours before disposal
- Keep a bucket of water or hose on hand at all times
Guidance from CPSC, NFPA, and ATF
CPSC and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reinforce and add to that guidance:
- Buy only legal, labeled consumer fireworks from reputable retailers — never homemade or altered devices
- Keep a minimum safe distance: roughly 35 feet for ground-based devices like fountains, and 150 feet for aerial devices
- Never aim, throw, or point fireworks at people, animals, or structures
- Wait at least 20 minutes before approaching a dud, then soak it thoroughly
- Fireworks start more than 31,000 fires annually, so avoid use during burn bans or dry conditions, and keep a safe distance from vegetation and structures
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) adds a reminder for businesses: if your organization stores or handles fireworks or explosives inventory, secure it with alarms, floodlights, and fencing, limit access to essential personnel, and check inventory regularly for signs of theft.
Bringing This Back to the Workplace
For safety, HR, and operations leaders, fireworks safety isn’t just a personal reminder — it’s a seasonal opportunity to reinforce your organization’s broader safety culture:
- Share the message before the holiday. A short safety bulletin or toolbox talk on fireworks safety, timed to land before July 4th, extends your organization’s safety commitment beyond the walls of the facility.
- Stock the right supplies. Burn care, eyewash, and first aid stations should be fully stocked heading into the holiday weekend — burns are the single most common fireworks-related injury.
- Address on-site risk. If your facility hosts a holiday cookout or event, confirm whether fireworks, if used, comply with local ordinances, and keep first aid and fire suppression resources on hand and accessible.
A well-timed reminder costs nothing and can prevent a life-altering injury. That’s a message worth sharing with your team — and it’s the same principle behind everything we do at UniFirst First Aid + Safety: helping organizations build a genuine culture of safety, one prepared moment at a time.
