Injuries associated with homemade fireworks-- selected states, 1993-2004.

Around the July 4 Independence Day holiday each year in the United States, injuries associated with homemade fireworks are increasingly common. During June-July 2002, approximately 5,700 persons were treated for fireworks-related injuries at U.S. emergency departments; approximately 300 (5.3%) were injured in incidents involving illegal and homemade fireworks. CDC and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommend that fireworks be handled only by professionals. To describe injuries and emergency responses resulting from homemade fireworks explosions, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) researched data from its Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system. This report summarizes four incidents involving homemade fireworks explosions that were identified by the surveillance system. To prevent injuries and deaths, no one should attempt to make their own fireworks.