SALT LAKE CITY -- Fireworks are part of the festivities around the 4th of July, but they can quickly go from fun to frightening.
According to the Intermountain Medical Center, more than 10,000 Americans suffer serious fireworks-related injuries every year. Dr. Brad Morris, a trauma doctor at Intermountain Medical Center, said approximately 40 percent of those injuries are suffered by bystanders.
The Intermountain Medical Center offered the following safety tips to minimize the risk of fireworks-related injuries:
- Anyone using fireworks should be supervised by an experienced adult.
- Keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water nearby.
- Light fireworks one at a time.
- Never try to relight or handle a malfunctioning firework. Douse it with water and throw it in the garbage.
