Atrium Health Navicent Offers Fireworks Safety Tips for a Fun and Injury-Free Summer
MACON, Ga., July 1, 2025 – Fireworks are a beloved part of Independence Day celebrations, lighting up the sky with color and excitement. But behind the sparkle lies a serious risk. Each year, thousands of people, many of them children, are injured by fireworks. From burns and eye injuries to more severe outcomes like amputations, the dangers are real.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2024 there were 11 reported fireworks-related deaths, most involving misuse and device misfire/malfunctions. An estimated 14,700 people were injured by fireworks last year — a sharp increase of about 38 percent in deaths and about 52 percent in injuries respectively compared to 2023.
There were an estimated 1,700 emergency room treated injuries in 2024 involving sparklers. The most injured body parts are the hands, fingers, head, face and ears. Emergency rooms see a spike in these injuries every summer, many of which are preventable. Physicians at Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center, central and south Georgia’s only nationally verified Level I Trauma Center, encourage individuals to prevent firework injuries by following these tips:
• Use fireworks outdoors only: Never light fireworks indoors or in enclosed spaces.
• Keep water nearby: Always have a hose or bucket of water on hand in case of fire or malfunction.
• Use as intended: Don’t alter or combine fireworks. Follow the instructions on the label.
• Don’t relight duds: Wait 20 minutes, then soak them in water.
• Light one at a time: This reduces the risk of accidents.
• Wear safety gear: The person lighting the fireworks should wear safety glasses.
• Keep your distance: Make sure everyone is standing far away from the launch site.
• No horseplay: Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Avoid alcohol: Drinking impairs judgment and coordination — two things you need when handling explosives.
• Sparklers are not for young kids: Only children over 12 years of age should handle sparklers, and always under adult supervision.
• Say no to homemade fireworks: They are unpredictable and extremely dangerous.
“Fireworks can be a fun and memorable part of your summer, but only if used responsibly. By following these safety tips, you can ensure your celebration ends with a bang — in the sky, not in the ER,” said Dr. John Wood, medical director for the Emergency Department at Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center. “In addition, please refrain from celebratory gunfire. Bullets returning to the ground can cause serious injury or death for bystanders.”
If an accident or injury occurs, seek appropriate medical treatment. For emergency situations, call 911 or seek care at the nearest emergency room. Atrium Health Navicent offers emergency care at the following locations:
• Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital (888 Pine St., Macon)
• Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center (770 Pine St., Macon)
• Atrium Health Navicent Peach (1960 Hwy 247 Connector, Byron)
• Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin (821 North Cobb St., Milledgeville)
• Putnam General Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent Partner (101 Greensboro Road, Eatonton)
For non-life-threatening injuries, visit your nearest urgent care provider. Atrium Health Navicent provides urgent care at three Macon-Bibb County locations:
• Atrium Health Navicent Urgent Care North (3400 Riverside Drive, Macon)
• Atrium Health Navicent Urgent Care East (1339 Gray Highway, Macon)
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and well-being through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 130-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Advocate Health is nationally recognized for its expertise in heart and vascular, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs more than 160,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to redefining care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.