Americans will be celebrating the Fourth of July this weekend with fireworks and backyard barbecues.
Unfortunately, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has noted a significant upward trend in fireworks-related injuries in recent years. And U.S. consumers will find their favorite Independence Day cookout foods are up too, based on data from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
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Between 2006 and 2021, injuries from fireworks climbed 25% in the U.S., according to commission estimates. Last year, at least nine people died, and an estimated 11,500 were injured.
Of last year's emergency department-treated injuries, 1,500 were associated with firecrackers and 1,100 involved sparklers. Body parts most frequently injured were hands and fingers (31%) plus head, face, and ears (21%). About 32% of emergency department-treated injuries were for burns.
Also, 15% were eye injuries. In some cases, fireworks can rupture the eye and cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions and retinal detachment — all of which can cause permanent vision loss.
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Tips to Celebrate Safely
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.
- Light fireworks one at a time, then move quickly away from the fireworks device.
- Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never point or throw fireworks (including sparklers) at anyone.
- After fireworks complete their burning, to prevent a trash fire, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device.
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area, and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use.
- Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
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As for your cookout, the average overall cost is up 17% from last year, a result of ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflation and the war in Ukraine.
Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist Roger Cryan noted the cost of fuel is also up for growers, and fertilizer prices have tripled.
Cryan noted that Ukraine's contributions to global food supplies have been cut off. Meanwhile, Russian and Belarusian fertilizer exports are constrained, and some other countries have pulled back exports to protect their own supplies.
The largest price increase has been for ground beef. At an average $11.12 for two pounds, the cost of your hamburgers is up 36%. Pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream are more costly this year, too.