Fireworks are a July 4th tradition. In the midst of the fun, however, it’s important to play it safe.

According to Fox16.com, in 2022, 11 Americans died and 10,200 were taken to emergency rooms because of fireworks. The vast majority of those injuries – 73% – occurred in the period between June 17 and July 17, 2022, according to the 2022 Fireworks Annual Report from the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. Five of those deaths were associated with fireworks misuse, with victims ranging from 11 to 43 years of age.

Based on the number of injuries requiring treatment in the hospital, the most dangerous fireworks are:

• Firecrackers — 1,300 injuries
• Sparklers — 600 injuries
• Illegal firecrackers — 500 injuries
• Roman candles — 400 injuries
• Rockets (non-bottle) — 300 injuries
• Small firecrackers — 200 injuries

You can help avoid injuries by playing it safe with fireworks. Here are some tips from the Department of Homeland Security.

• Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water/hose nearby in case of accidents.
• Designate a safety perimeter. If you have ground-based fireworks like a fountain, spectating from at least 35 feet away is best. For aerial fireworks, you’ll want everyone to move back to a distance of around 150 feet.
• Ditch faulty fireworks. Sometimes fireworks don’t go off, but duds always pose a risk. The important thing to know is that you should never try to relight or approach a failed firework. Let duds sit for 5 -10 minutes before you put them in a bucket of water. This can prevent injury from a delayed explosion and disarm the firework permanently so you can safely dispose of it.
• Supervise children when they are handling sparklers. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet or touching body parts.
• Don’t forget about your pets! Fireworks can be extremely stressful for pets, but there are ways to help reduce their fear and anxiety. Keep your pets indoors. Close the curtains or blinds and turn on the TV or radio to provide some distraction. Treat toys filled with their favorite food (frozen pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and apple sauce are good options) may also help keep their minds busy and distract them from the fireworks.
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.
• Never place a part of your body directly over a firework or hold a firework in your hand when lighting. To safely light fireworks, make sure they are secured on the ground away from people and animals and use a stem lighter such as a grill lighter.
• Only light one firework at a time. Lighting multiple fireworks at the same time increases the risk of accidents occurring from the fuse burning faster than designed.
• Avoid alcohol consumption when handling or using fireworks. This should be pretty self-explanatory.
• Consider safe alternatives to fireworks such as party poppers, bubbles, silly string, or glow sticks.