> Learn more about the history of fireworks, which dates back to an accidental invention during an alchemist’s quest for information about immortality. (More)
> Firework-related celebrations include an annual El Salvador summer celebration with residents throwing kerosene-covered balls to commemorate a 1658 volcanic eruption. (More)
> Magnesium makes white fireworks; strontium makes reds. (More)
That trend of personal firework use has continued. Data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates that in 2023, there were 9,700 injuries—a number that rose 52% in 2024 to 14,700. On top of those injuries, 11 people in the US also died from firework accidents in 2024. What’s more, federal data indicates that firework imports increased by around 19% from 2023 to 2024.
> Fireworks make a loud booming sound after exploding due to air expanding faster than the speed of sound. (More)
> In the early 1900s, Fourth of July celebrations were so dangerous that a reform movement emerged to make them safer. (More)
Firework injuries often affect the hands, fingers, face, ears, and head. Many states and localities have lax or rarely enforced regulations around fireworks, which has supported the proliferation of consumer use. Expert advice for handling fireworks more safely includes never using alcohol or drugs while using fireworks, purchasing only legal fireworks (which include warning labels), lighting the devices one at a time, and never picking up or trying to relight a firework that didn’t fully ignite.
> Massachusetts is the only state that bans all nonprofessional fireworks. (More)
> See images of medical cases of firework injuries shared on this “Instagram for doctors.” (More)
Discover more:
> Learn how your body is, scientifically, like a firework with its own slow, controlled burn. (More, w/video)
> “Silent” fireworks have gained more interest in recent years as a quieter celebratory option. (More)
> … and explore everything we learned about fireworks.
