WAUSAU, Wis. – As Independence Day approaches, emergency providers at Aspirus are reminding the community that fireworks, while festive, can lead to serious and preventable injuries. Despite public awareness efforts, patients continue to seek treatment each year for burns, trauma, and other fireworks-related incidents. At Aspirus Wausau Hospital, there were 8 emergency encounters related to fireworks in 2024 and 6 in 2025, underscoring a consistent seasonal risk.
Nationally, the concern remains significant. A 2025 report from the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory estimated that 13,004 fireworks-related injuries were treated in emergency departments across the United States. Locally and nationally, medical professionals emphasize that many of these injuries could be avoided with proper precautions.
“Each year we continue to see firework injuries around the Fourth of July,” said Delaney Wulf, PA-C, Aspirus Emergency Department.“As fireworks become more powerful and intense, the injuries we see are also becoming more severe and can be life-threatening.”
These injuries can have lasting consequences, ranging from severe burns to permanent disability. Providers at Aspirus report cases involving amputations and eye injuries that can result in permanent vision loss.
“We’ve seen injuries to the hands and limbs that can result in amputation, and eye injuries that can lead to blindness,” Wulf said. “These aren’t just serious in the moment; they can impact a person for the rest of their life.”
Children are especially vulnerable to fireworks-related injuries, even from items often considered safe, such as sparklers. Emergency providers note that curiosity and close proximity increase the risk of burns and eye injuries among younger individuals.
In addition to fireworks injuries, emergency departments often see an increase in other incidents during the holiday, including alcohol-related accidents and outdoor injuries, making it one of the busiest times of the year for care teams.
“As an emergency department provider, the Fourth of July is a very busy time, and I would stress caution during your celebrations,” Wulf added. “We want everyone to enjoy the holiday safely, because we don’t want to see you in our department.”
Health professionals recommend several safety measures, including keeping a safe distance when lighting fireworks, staying near a water source, and attending professional displays when possible. If a burn occurs, it is important to run cool water over the affected area for at least 20 minutes and avoid applying ice or home remedies, which may worsen the injury.
For emergency providers, the goal is clear. Fewer preventable injuries so more people can spend the holiday celebrating, not seeking care.
BY-Andrew Krauss
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