PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- In 2017, about 280 people ended their celebrations early in the emergency room during the fireworks season.
More than half of those injuries were to the hands and head.
How can you avoid a trip to the hospital?
Here are some tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that failed to fire.
- Keep a bucket of water or a charged garden hose nearby as a precaution.
- Check the ordinances in your town as to whether fireworks are legal, and which kinds.
- Light only one firework off at a time, and move away quickly.
For more information, visit the CPSC.