Firework related-injuries and deaths were up in 2020, according to a yearly report done by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The commission found that at least 18 people died in 2020 from a firework-related injury, up from 12 in 2019. The number of injuries increased as well, with at least 15,600 firework injuries being treated last year. That’s an increase of 56% from 2019. In the past 15 years, about 9 people have died each year from firework-related injuries.


“A review of data from telephone follow-up investigations showed that the typical causes of injuries were due to both the misuse and malfunction of fireworks,” the report says. “At the time of the telephone investigation, which was conducted typically 1 to 2 months after the injury, most victims had recovered from their injuries. One of the 7 respondents interviewed reported that the injury will be long term.”

Of those injured, the majority were men and between the ages of 25 and 44. Young adults between the ages of 20 and 24 were the most likely to be injured.

The most common parts of the body that were injured were the hands and fingers, followed by head, face and ears. Burns were the most common injury.

Due to the nature of gathering information on deaths, it’s possible that some deaths are not yet counted, so the organization considers that the latest statistics should be treated as minimums. Many of the deaths that occured last year were from using commercial grade fireworks. Drugs and alcohol were found in the bodies of several of those killed.

The C.P.S.C. recommends that young children stay away from fireworks, and that water be accessible in case of any mishaps.