In South Carolina, a man died Thursday night after lighting a large firework and placing it on his head, police said. And in Alabama, a fireworks artist was injured when a firework “suddenly exploded” during a scheduled fireworks display, forcing the cancellation of the city’s fireworks show and taking him to a hospital by medical helicopter.
The incidents are among dozens of fireworks-related injuries and deaths reported across the country during this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
Here’s a summary of serious fireworks-related injuries reported across the country as of early Friday morning:
Fireworks-related fatalities
- In Illinois, a 34-year-old man was killed while handling fireworks in Chicago’s northwest area around 10 p.m. Thursday. Chicago police told USA Today that officers responded to the scene and found the victim with traumatic injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Also in Illinois, a 25-year-old man was killed in a fireworks accident in LaSalle early Friday morning, USA Today Network’s Journal Star reported. The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office said the incident was caused by illegal fireworks, and that the injured man was taken to a hospital where he later died.
- A 41-year-old South Carolina man died after suffering injuries while using fireworks, according to a Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office incident report obtained by USA Today. A sheriff’s deputy cited witnesses in the report who said the man ignited a large pyrotechnic device and held it to his head, causing it to explode and kill him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Don Webster, a spokesman for Huntsville Emergency Medical Emergency Services in Alabama, told USA Today that a man was injured in a fireworks incident in Madison County just after midnight Friday. Webster said the 20-year-old man from Harvest, who suffered upper body trauma, was taken to Huntsville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Explosives technician transported by helicopter and burned to death:Alabama fireworks technician hospitalized after sudden explosion, city’s fireworks show canceled
Fireworks injuries 2024
- The city of Jacksonville, Alabama, canceled its fireworks display Thursday night after a shell suddenly exploded, injuring a technician who was taken by helicopter to a hospital. City officials said Friday that the technician has been released from the hospital and is expected to recover.
- In Colorado, a man lost a large portion of his hand when a firework exploded Wednesday night, the Colorado Springs Fire Department reported on its Facebook page. The incident happened in the Cheyenne Mountain area, southwest of Colorado Springs, the department said.
- In Oklahoma, a 10-year-old boy from the Oklahoma City area was taken to the hospital to be treated for burns from a fireworks explosion, KFOR-TV reported. A man told the station that his grandson had purchased four fireworks, two of which malfunctioned, one of which injured the boy.
- In Utah, several people were injured when fireworks were fired into crowds at Brigham Young University’s LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo during the stadium’s annual fireworks display, which also included a performance by the Jonas Brothers. Officials did not immediately release the number or severity of injuries.
- According to EastIdahoNews.com, several people, including several children, were watching the fireworks at a private gathering in Rexburg, Idaho. “Several individuals were transported to Madison Memorial Hospital and two minors were transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls,” Deputy Police Chief Gary Hagen told the news outlet. None of the injuries were life-threatening, and police are still investigating the cause.
Last year’s injury report
Last year, 9,700 people across the U.S. were treated in emergency rooms and eight people died in fireworks-related incidents, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Here’s a breakdown of last year’s injuries:
- 19% suffered eye injuries.
- 22% suffered injuries to the face, head, or ears.
- 35% suffered hand injuries.
- 11% sustained injuries to the lower extremities.
Fireworks Safety Tips
The National Safety Council recommends that the safest way to use fireworks is to watch them at public fireworks displays conducted by professionals and not use them at home.
If you must set off fireworks at home, the council recommends the following tips:
- Do not use illegal fireworks.
- Never allow children to handle fireworks.
- Never use fireworks while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Wear eye protection.
- Never hold a lit firework in your hand.
- Never set off fireworks indoors.
- Fireworks should only be used away from people, buildings and flammable materials.
- Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
- Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance.
- Never ignite the device inside the container.
- Do not relight or handle defective fireworks.
- Soak used or unused fireworks in water for several hours before throwing them away.
- Keep water nearby to extinguish fireworks if a fire breaks out.
- Instead of sparklers, consider using safer alternatives like glow sticks, confetti poppers and colored streamers.
This is a developing story.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
