Health Insurance
Fireworks Injuries Plunge After Explosive 2020
The Fourth of July is one of the most popular days of the year for fireworks. Consequently, it also sees the highest number of fireworks-related emergency room visits.
Regardless of the time of year, consumers risk injuring themselves whenever they handle fireworks. Case in point, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a spike in fireworks injuries in 2020, even though the latest data reveals that fireworks injuries plummeted in 2021.
As this year’s Independence Day approaches, ValuePenguin looks at how the number of fireworks injuries changed during the 10 years from 2012 to 2021. In addition to analyzing what factors may contribute to the numbers, we also look into which demographics are most likely to injure themselves and what types of injuries fireworks most often cause.
Key findings
- Fireworks injuries requiring trips to the emergency room fell nearly 27% between 2020 and 2021. There were 11,487 fireworks injuries in 2021, down from a record-breaking 15,646 in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic likely played a role. Amid strict social distancing measures and fewer public celebrations, demand for consumer fireworks jumped in 2020. Meanwhile, about 70% of the nation’s public fireworks shows returned in 2021.
- While injuries are down year over year, fireworks injuries nearly doubled between 2012 and 2020. Several U.S. states have adopted more liberal fireworks laws over the past decade. Today, just one state — Massachusetts — fully bans consumer fireworks sales.
- Younger Americans and men are much more likely to hurt themselves with fireworks. Nearly 66% of fireworks injuries between 2012 and 2021 were to people 29 and younger, with those ages 15 to 19 accounting for most. By gender, men account for almost 68% of all fireworks injuries.
- Fireworks safety education is critical. While experts advise against nonprofessional fireworks, a 2021 ValuePenguin survey on fireworks safety found that most Americans ignore their advice. Further, 82% of parents with kids younger than 18 think it’s OK for children to play with fireworks or sparklers.
Fireworks injuries fell nearly 27% amid return of public displays
There were 11,487 fireworks injuries treated at emergency departments in 2021 — a 26.6% decrease from 15,646 in 2020. This year-over-year drop leaves 2020 with the highest number of injuries over the past 10 years.
The COVID-19 pandemic likely played a role in both years’ data. With strict social distancing measures leading to fewer public fireworks demonstrations in 2020, consumer demand for fireworks jumped as Americans turned to private Independence Day celebrations. In fact, consumer fireworks revenue topped $1.9 billion in 2020, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA). Comparatively, display fireworks revenue plummeted to $93 million. That’s a drastic shift from the years prior — but we’ll cover more on that later.
Meanwhile, about 70% of the nation’s public fireworks shows returned in 2021, according to the APA. Although this alone likely encouraged many Americans to return to professional fireworks displays, a fireworks shortage might have played a role in the decline in injuries. About 30% of the nation’s consumer fireworks supply didn’t hit the shelves in time for Independence Day, according to the APA. With demand still high, prices also jumped — and more than doubled in some cases.
While fireworks injuries were higher in 2020 than in previous years, these supply chain issues likely led to more Americans attending professional fireworks displays in 2021, which could explain the year-over-year decrease.
Fireworks injuries nearly doubled between 2012 and 2020
While 2021 saw a considerable year-over-year decrease, the number of fireworks injuries was still higher than it was in all but three years in the past decade. In fact, between 2012 (the year with the lowest number of fireworks injuries) and 2020 (the year with the highest), injuries nearly doubled — and COVID-19 isn’t the only factor worth blaming.
Fireworks injuries (by year)
Year | National estimate | Year-over-year percentage increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 8,658 | – |
| 2013 | 11,361 | 31.2% |
| 2014 | 10,512 | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 12,011 | 14.3% |
| 2016 | 11,133 | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 12,884 | 15.7% |
| 2018 | 9,081 | -29.5% |
| 2019 | 9,992 | 10.0% |
| 2020 | 15,646 | 56.6% |
| 2021 | 11,487 | -26.6% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data
Changing fireworks laws may be one reason why injuries are higher now than toward the beginning of the decade. Between 2012 and 2021, 10 U.S. states adopted more liberal fireworks laws — of those, seven legalized the sale of all or most consumer fireworks beyond “novelty” products such as sparklers. However, some states restrict fireworks use to certain dates.
Today, most states allow the sale of all or some consumer fireworks. Among stricter states, here’s what restrictions are in place:
- Illinois and Vermont only permit the sale of novelty products.
- Hawaii, Nevada, Ohio and Wyoming allow individual counties or local governments to establish their own regulations. (Ohio’s law goes into effect on July 1, 2022.)
- Just one state (Massachusetts) fully bans consumer fireworks sales.
Consumer fireworks sales have subsequently climbed, while professional fireworks sales have fallen. The U.S. fireworks industry made $645 million from consumers in 2012, according to the APA. That skyrocketed to $1 billion in 2019 and nearly doubled the following year. In 2021, consumer fireworks revenue reached $2.2 billion — the highest level ever.
Meanwhile, the fireworks industry made $320 million from display revenue in 2012. While display fireworks sales saw a few years of growth (albeit at a marginally slower pace), revenue plummeted to an all-time low of $93 million in 2020. The following year saw a rebound, but at $262 million, revenue was still lower than in the years before 2020.
Consumer demand has certainly shifted, but those figures don’t include all fireworks sales — only the legal ones. A 2021 ValuePenguin survey on fireworks safety found that 22% of Americans admit to using illegal, professional-grade fireworks. Though all consumer fireworks come with risks, illegal products account for most fireworks injuries, according to the National Safety Council.
Young Americans and men most likely to be injured
Overall, younger Americans — and particularly teens — are more likely to injure themselves with fireworks. Between 2012 and 2021, Americans ages 29 and younger accounted for nearly 66% of fireworks injuries. Among these groups, those ages 15 to 19 had the highest percentage of fireworks injuries (12.4%).
Fireworks injuries by age group
Age group | Total injuries | Percentage of total injuries |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | 10,965 | 9.9% |
| 5 to 9 | 10,923 | 9.9% |
| 10 to 14 | 12,113 | 11.0% |
| 15 to 19 | 13,732 | 12.4% |
| 20 to 24 | 13,498 | 12.2% |
| 25 to 29 | 11,585 | 10.5% |
| 30 to 34 | 10,187 | 9.2% |
| 35 to 39 | 8,385 | 7.6% |
| 40 to 44 | 6,152 | 5.6% |
| 45 to 49 | 4,514 | 4.1% |
| 50 to 54 | 3,883 | 3.5% |
| 55 to 59 | 3,237 | 2.9% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data from 2012 to 2021
These findings come as 82% of parents with children younger than 18 say they think it’s generally OK for kids to play with fireworks or sparklers, according to the ValuePenguin survey on fireworks safety. And while some parents may think sparklers are safer, according to a 2021 report from the National Fire Protection Association, they account for more than a quarter of fireworks-related emergency room visits.
By gender, men are more likely to be injured than women. Men accounted for 67.6% of fireworks injuries between 2012 and 2021, compared with 32.3% among women.
Head and arm injuries are most common
Overall, 15.1% of fireworks injuries result in someone being admitted to the hospital. While the chances of hospitalization may seem low, Americans risk life-altering injuries. Between 2012 and 2021, 40.8% of fireworks injuries caused damage to the upper extremities — such as the upper arms, forearms and hands — and 33.2% caused damage to the head or neck. That’s followed by:
- Lower extremities (such as the hips, legs and toes): 15.1%
- Upper trunk (such as the chest and shoulders): 4.6%
- Lower trunk/pubic region: 3.5%
- Injuries over a quarter or more of the body: 2.6%
Nearly half (48.8%) of those injured by fireworks are diagnosed with burns, making this the most common diagnosis. The second most common injury type includes cuts and bruises, at nearly 12%. Additionally, nearly 3% of fireworks injuries result in amputations.
Diagnosis from fireworks-related injuries
Diagnosis | National estimate | Percentage of total injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Amputation | 3,154 | 2.7% |
| Anoxia | 1,551 | 1.3% |
| Burns | 56,397 | 48.7% |
| Contusions, abrasions | 13,674 | 11.8% |
| Foreign body | 3,804 | 3.3% |
| Fracture | 7,101 | 6.1% |
| Internal organ injury | 3,435 | 3.0% |
| Laceration | 11,289 | 9.8% |
| Other | 12,493 | 10.8% |
| Strain, sprain | 2,798 | 2.4% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data from 2012 to 2021
Preventive measures to consider before this Independence Day
While experts advise against nonprofessional fireworks, the 2021 ValuePenguin survey on fireworks safety found that most Americans ignore their advice. Nearly three-fourths (74%) of respondents — and 86% of parents with kids younger than 18 — planned to be around nonprofessionals setting off fireworks in 2021. A further 59% planned to set off their own.
Amid these findings, Robin Townsend, a ValuePenguin health insurance expert, says some Americans put themselves at a costly risk. While most health insurance plans cover fireworks injuries as they would any other medical concern, Townsend says the cost of more expensive treatments like amputations may lead to more money spent on deductibles or copays. Because insurance rates are determined by the total number of claims across a risk pool, these treatments may also lead to an annual increase in premiums for all consumers under the same plan.
However, Townsend says your liability for injury-related expenses depends on where you were injured.
“If you injure yourself using fireworks, you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket costs based on your health policy,” Townsend says. “But homeowners insurance might kick in in some cases. For example, if you’re injured by malfunctioning fireworks while visiting a friend, their homeowners policy may cover you.”
Townsend says the best way to avoid injury is to enjoy a public (and professional) fireworks display. But if you decide to handle fireworks this year, she advises you to learn your local fireworks laws and follow expert-recommended safety measures to prevent serious injury.
Methodology
ValuePenguin researchers looked at injury data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2012 to 2021. Specifically, researchers analyzed the data for injuries related to fireworks.