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 14,700 fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency rooms and at least 11 deaths across the United States in 2024, with 66 percent of those injuries coming in the 30 days surrounding July 4.

Those numbers represent significant increases from 2023 –injuries were up by 52 percent and deaths climbed by 38 percent.

Most likely to be injured are those in the 25-44 age group — 32 percent — followed by those between the ages of 15 and 24 — 24 percent. Nearly two thirds of those injured were males.

The majority of fireworks-related injuries were to the hands and fingers, legs, eyes, head, face and ears, and more than 37 percent of the injuries were burns. The majority of those injuries — 36 percent — came to hands and fingers, while 22 percent came to the head, face and ears.

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 when they land on a roof and can ignite an entire neighborhood if they fall on dry vegetation. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 18,000 fires are started by fireworks each year.

Novelty items, such as sparklers, which are legal in most locations, can cause severe injuries — they burn at about 2,000 degrees, the safety commission says, 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 and wood burns at 575 degrees.

Glow sticks, the association says, are a much safer option.

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.

Consumers also need to be wary about the fireworks they purchase — the CPSC reported that in 2023, 18 percent of selected and tested fireworks products were found to contain noncompliant components, including fuse violations, the presence of prohibited chemicals and pyrotechnic materials overload.

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