The Fourth of July is next week and as a result firework-related injuries are a larger risk. Fireworks have been involved in more than 11,000 injuries treated in emergency departments through the U.S., according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. “The majority of [firework related] injuries are due to poor human decisions,” said Ralph Baine, M.D., emergency physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Alliance, in a press release. “The majority are males between 15-25, and often alcohol is involved.” Baine said most injuries occur when people get too close to a combusting firework. Tips to enjoy a safe Fourth of July on behalf of Texas Health Resources include:

• First, check with local authorities to make sure fireworks are allowed in local areas.
• While minor fireworks can be handled with normal precautions, it’s important to leave the professional-grade fireworks to the experts.
• Always have adult supervision to monitor that fireworks are used in a safe manner; children too young to understand the dangers can see a firework as another toy.
• Keep items nearby such as water and aloe vera to treat minor burns.

Approximately 70 percent of firework injuries involve burns, and though minor burns may be treatable at home, it’s recommended to have burns inflicted to the hands, eyes and other functional parts of the body seen by a physician. “An injury to the eye can be significant because fireworks are an explosive force and when that happens it can form a projectile of dirt, rocks or gravel,” said Baine. “When foreign bodies get into the eyes it can cause damage and be quite painful.”