TOLEDO, Ohio — Burn injuries, loss of fingers, broken bones and fractures.
These are just some of the dangers ProMedica emergency physician Dr. Jesse Park said can happen if people aren't safe while celebrating July 4.
He said they are mostly caused by blast injuries from people holding explosives in their hands such as sparklers.
"Kids are frequently going to wave them around," Park said. "That's a very high likelihood of poking someone in the eye, poking someone anywhere on their body and causing injuries."
Mercy Health injury prevention coordinator Hannah Fairchild said they also see a number of people come in from holding sparklers.
"Being mindful that sparklers actually can burn as hot as some torches and they stay hot enough to cause third-degree burns for up to five minutes," Fairchild said.
Park recommends people prevent these injuries from happening by keeping an eye on their young ones. He said small, less severe burns can be treated at home by running it under cold water and cooling it down.
He suggests people dealing with fireworks avoid any alcohol consumption.
"If you're consuming alcohol, you're not going to get in your car and drive around and be irresponsible," Park said. "Same thing with the fireworks, it's not just for your protection, it's for everyone around you as well."
In addition, Fairchild recommends people make responsible choices.
She said Mercy Health last year received almost half of their emergencies from motor vehicle accidents and falls, more than what they received from actual firework-related incidents.
As for fireworks safety, she said some of her coworkers see horrific injuries from people trying to mix fireworks.
"Some of my co-workers, the worse injuries they've seen come from homing fireworks, from people trying to combine those smaller things," Fairchild said.
Dr. Park said wearing protective wear and taking preventative measures such as keeping a medical kit nearby can also keep people from ending up in the emergency this holiday.
"Eyewear, maybe even some protective gloves, and then of course follow instructions if any are included with the material," Park said.