SAVANNAH, Ga. () – The 4th of July is just around the corner, and with it comes fireworks, food, and family fun. However, along with the celebration comes a serious need for safety, especially when it comes to fireworks.

Fireworks send more than 14,000 people to emergency rooms each year and many are kids and teens. If not handled properly they can lead to dangerous injuries and a visit to the hospital.

In 2024 alone, there were 11 reported deaths and almost 15,000 injuries, more than a third of those injuries happen to hands and fingers. Sparklers, which many think are harmless, can reach up to 2,000 degrees which is hot enough to melt metal. They’re responsible for nearly half of injuries in children under five.

If you do use fireworks at home, keep a hose or bucket of water nearby, light one device at a time, and never relight duds. You should always wear protective eyewear and supervise closely.

“Last year, there were 11 fireworks related deaths and about half of injuries from fireworks come from sparklers and kids who are less than five years old. So it’s really important to make sure that the kids know that the fireworks are not for them, but there’s something that they can watch and enjoy in the sky,” said Dr. Ashley Cheek, a Pediatrician at Memorial Health Hospital.

Experts strongly advise keeping kids away from all fireworks, including sparklers, and instead offering safer alternatives like glow sticks or confetti poppers. The safest bet? Leave the fireworks to the pros and watch a public show from at least 500 feet away.

The key takeaway is keep the holiday fun injury-free by supervising kids closely and opting for safer alternatives.