Every year, thousands of families end their 4th of July celebration with a visit to the emergency room due to injuries caused by fireworks. While fireworks can be fun and exciting, they can also be dangerous. A special study conducted by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff found that 65 percent of all fireworks injuries in 2011 were sustained during the 30 days surrounding the Independence Day holiday. More than half of these injuries were the result of unexpected ignition of the device or consumers not using fireworks as intended.

Eugene Izsak, MD, is a board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician at ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital Emergency Center. He has been practicing for 35 years and is certified as an advanced trauma life support, pediatric advanced life support and advanced cardiac life support instructor. He is also a frequent media commentator on issues of child safety and injury prevention.

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