WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, a new independent report reveals concerning trends in fireworks-related injuries and fatalities, underscoring a critical gap in federal oversight. The American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) has released its inaugural Annual Fireworks Injury Report, detailing an estimated 14,741 injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2024.
The report’s findings highlight significant safety concerns, particularly regarding the entry of untested and illegal products into the market. Key takeaways from the AFSL report include:
- Nineteen fatalities were reported, with four deaths linked explicitly to individuals launching reloadable aerial shells from their bodies.
- Adults aged 30 and over accounted for 42% of all injuries, indicating that injuries are not limited to younger users.
- AFSL’s rigorous testing program, which covers approximately 70% of all imported fireworks and often exceeds federal safety standards, continues to reject tens of thousands of unsafe products annually. Despite these rejections, many of these dangerous items still find their way to consumers through unregulated channels.
A former Chief of Staff at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and a former firefighter, who has volunteered to help AFSL promote these findings, emphasized the urgency of disseminating this information. Having previously overseen the release of similar reports during their tenure at the CPSC, they underlined the importance of providing families with accurate and timely safety information ahead of holiday celebrations.
The AFSL’s new report aims to provide transparency and insight, serving as a vital tool to support the safer use of fireworks. The organization and its advocates are available to discuss the data’s implications, including:
- Insights into injury trends and common types of misuse.
- The growing danger posed by untested, overloaded, or illegal fireworks.
- Concerns about the current lack of comprehensive federal oversight since the CPSC discontinued its injury reports.
- Essential, life-saving tips for consumers before lighting fireworks.
The full report is available for public review at www.afsl.org.
