Here’s Why Setting off Fireworks—and Constantly Listening to Them—Is so Dangerous
A sudden wave of fireworks going off in cities across the country has left plenty of people with one question: What’s going on? From Los Angeles to New York City, fireworks are going off late at night, sometimes for hours, with no explanation.
Marty Walsh, the mayor of Boston, told reporters in mid-June that 911 calls about illegal fireworks jumped up 2,300% in May, compared to the previous year, with some people mistaking the sound of fireworks for gunshots. “This is a serious issue,” he said. “People are frightened. People are losing sleep. Babies and kids are woken up. Pets are terrified. Our veterans and others with PTSD are experiencing real harm, and it’s a real fire hazard in our city.”
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said something similar during a news conference in late June. “This is a real problem,” he said. “It is not just a quality of life problem and a noise problem, and it’s certainly that. But it can also be dangerous.”
How dangerous are fireworks?
Sure, it wouldn’t feel like summer without a loud, colorful fireworks display. But if you’re not going to a professional show and plan on firing them off from your own backyard or in the street, know this: Fireworks can be incredibly dangerous.
“We get our fair share each year of people who are injured by fireworks,” says Eric Adkins, M.D., an emergency room physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, adding that he often sees burn injuries on the fingertips and hands.
Unfortunately, these burn injuries happen more often than you’d think. “They’re extremely numerous and can be quite severe,” says David Cutler, M.D., a family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
In 2019 alone, there were at least 12 deaths and 7,300 injuries from fireworks-related incidents, with more than 36% of injuries involving children younger than 15 years old, according to the most recent figures from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Of course, there’s the mental health aspect to consider, too. “The noise of fireworks is startling, surprising, and unpredictable. These are all classic contributors to the creation of anxiety in a person,” says psychologist John Mayer, Ph.D., author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life. Fireworks can also make people wonder where the sound is coming from and whether it could cause them harm, given that they can be easily confused with the sound of gunshots, he says.
Many people have also reported losing sleep over the firework sounds, and psychologist Alicia H. Clark, Psy.D., author of Hack Your Anxiety, says lack of sleep makes anxiety much worse. “Not only are you having this disruption to the silence that you need to go to sleep, but there is an unpredictability to it,” she says. “And stimuli that are unpredictable are more stressful than ones that are predictable.” As a result, you can end up feeling even more anxious and having difficulty regulating your emotions, she says.
Unfortunately, you have little to no control over whether someone shoots off fireworks near you. That’s why Mayer recommends doing what you can to try to reduce or eliminate the factors that cause anxiety in you, like wearing earplugs, playing music, or turning on a white noise machine when fireworks tend to go off in your area.
Can fireworks be harmful to your pets?
Dogs and cats can get startled by the loud booms generated by fireworks, says Leanne Lilly, D.V.M., an animal behavioral specialist at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “There are a few theories as to why fireworks seem to be especially concerning, and for some it may be a lack of positive exposure during socialization,” Dr. Lilly says. “Since that period is very short—three to 12 weeks in dogs; two to nine weeks in cats—if there aren’t fireworks paired with something fun during that time, cats and dogs are more likely to be scared of them.”
Sounds that don’t have an easily identifiable source to cats and dogs, like thunder and fireworks, also are more common to spark fear in these pets, Dr. Lilly says. “Fireworks additionally are highly unpredictable to pets, which often makes fears worse as well,” she adds. These are a few signs your pet might be negatively impacted by fireworks, Dr. Lilly says:
Wide eyes
Dilated pupils
Pinned ears
Keeping their head and body low to the ground
Being stiff
Having their shoulders high
Their tail is tucked or low
Your pet may also seem hyper-vigilant, slink around, bark, howl, growl, or pee or poop where they shouldn’t. If this describes your pet or if you know your dog or cat tends to get anxious when fireworks go off, Dr. Lilly recommends keeping them indoors or on a leash when they’re outside, creating a barrier around doors that don’t open into fenced areas, going outside with your pet even if your yard is fenced in, and setting up a safe space for your pet, like a quiet room. You can even turn on white noise, play calming music, and feed your pet when the fireworks go off to try to distract them.
If you know in advance that fireworks will go off in your area, or if this has become a regular thing in your neighborhood, Dr. Lilly suggests checking in with your pet’s vet for additional guidance.
Fireworks and sparklers safety tips
Because fireworks hold such a high risk for serious burns, fires, and eye injuries, many organizations, such as the National Safety Council and the National Fire Protection Association, recommend people avoid consumer fireworks entirely and enjoy public displays put on by professionals. But if you end up lighting them yourself for the holiday (read: please do not be the person shooting these off every night), commit these safety tips to memory:
Know your local laws.
“In many places, fireworks are illegal,” Dr. Cutler points out. If they are legal, read the caution labels and instructions for every firework you buy.
Stay far away from M-class fireworks, like M-80s or M-100s.
These illegal explosives are extremely unpredictable and dangerous, and you should report them to the fire or police department or call the toll-free hotline 1-888-283-2662 if you see them.
Don’t buy fireworks packaged in brown paper.
These are usually meant to be handled by trained professionals.
Always be ‘on’ around fireworks.
Fireworks are no joke, and you or someone else can get seriously injured while using them. “These are very risky devices that require extreme caution,” Dr. Cutler says. Pay attention to your surroundings.
Never let children handle fireworks or sparklers.
Sparklers burn hot enough to melt some metals—imagine what they could do to a kid’s hands. “These can be very, very hot and cause significant burns to people,” says Dr. Adkins. Keep a close eye on children at any events where people are lighting fireworks.
Keep pets inside.
Again, most animals become extremely frightened by the loud noises and burning smells of fireworks and are likely to run away if they’re not kept safely inside.
Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
Bottle rockets are notorious for shooting into people’s eyes, so keep them covered whenever possible.
Don’t light a firework in your hand.
“There’s no reason to ever do this,” Dr. Adkins says. “It should be well-secured on the ground in a way that it can’t tip over and be directed at other people.
Clear a large area around fireworks before you light them.
Light fireworks in an open, clear area away from cars and buildings to minimize contact with things that could catch fire. Don’t let anyone enter that space immediately before and after you light it, Dr. Adkins says. Keep in mind that you’ll need to make the space even larger with bigger fireworks.
Never re-light a ‘dud’ firework.
“Sometimes you get a fuse that may be slow‚ then you go back and it goes off,” Dr. Adkins says. “If it’s a bigger firework, you can have some serious injuries.” Wait at least 20 minutes before handling it, then soak it in a bucket of water. Keep buckets of water or a hose nearby at all times.
Avoid alcohol while handling fireworks or sparklers.
It’s just an accident waiting to happen, so save the booze for afterward. “You need to apply a lot of common sense,” Dr. Cutler says.
When you’re done, douse all fireworks or sparklers with water.
You don’t want a trash fire on your hands.
If you experience a large burn or any injury to the eyes from fireworks, seek medical attention immediately, Dr. Adkins says. Don’t apply ointment, take pain meds, or attempt to remove any objects from the eye before going to the hospital, and try not to rub or rinse your eyes either.
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