The Fourth of July is a time traditionally shared with family picnics and get-togethers.

Many of those celebrations will be accompanied by a few bangs, booms and splashes of color and sparks. And, while we hope everyone will have a good time, we ask, once again, that you leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Summer, especially the weeks that surround the Independence Day holiday, offers the promise of relaxing, care-free enjoyment, but this time of year can be dangerous. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 11,500 fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency rooms and at least nine deaths across the United States in 2021, with 74 percent of those injuries coming in the 30 days surrounding July 4.

Firecrackers were reported as the No. 1 cause of injuries at 1,500, and sparklers were not too far behind at 1,100. The majority of those injured were males, and those 44 years of age and under suffer more than 85 percent of all injuries

Most of the fireworks injuries were to the hands and fingers, legs, eyes, head, face and ears, and more than 32 percent of the injuries were burns. Damage to the hands, fingers, face and ears account for 52 percent of all injuries

Remember that even the simplest of fireworks can cause a great deal of damage to individuals and property. Bottle rockets, for example, have been known to cause house fires where they land and can ignite an entire neighborhood if they fall on dry vegetation. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 19,500 fires are started by fireworks each year.

Even novelty items, such as sparklers, which are legal in most locations, can cause severe injuries — they burn at more than 1,200 degrees and can cause clothing to ignite and severe, life-changing damage to skin. To help put that temperature into perspective, the fire protection association says glass melts at 900 degrees.

Children are excited and curious about fireworks, which can lead to serious injuries — remember, an open flame is needed to ignite fireworks, and a book or box of matches or a lighter can bring a whole different set of dangers.

This year, enjoy the many fireworks displays that are scheduled to take place around the area, and if you do choose to set off your own presentation in your back yard, make sure you keep safety first.