Many families will be celebrating the Fourth of July weekend with sparklers, fire pits and bonfires and more. Northeast Ohio Parent spoke with Dr. Anjay Khandelwal, director of the Burn Center at Akron Children’s Hospital about fire safety and fireworks during the summer season.

“It’s year to year, but over the summer months, we may see anywhere between 25-40 or so patients with relatively significant burn injuries from camp fires or bonfires,” Khandelwal says. “You could very well see a similar number of patients with fireworks or fireworks-related injuries, as well.”

He recommends for fireworks to leave setting them off to the professionals or if you will do fireworks at home, do them with precaution and do not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Keep children away from the fireworks as best as possible. Make sure people are not around you or be aware where everyone is when lighting the fireworks. Have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher available, don’t pick up a dud or relight a used firework. After use, throw into a bucket of water rather than placing into a grassy or wooded area.

“What people are not aware of the number of injuries related to sparklers,” Khandelwal says. “The tip of a sparkler can reach temperatures can reach up to 1,000 to 2,000 degrees. Be careful with sparklers, especially around children. They can be a significant source or cause or frequent of injury among the pediatric age group.”

With camp fires and bonfires, Khandelwal notes that most injuries is related to careless behavior, people falling into the fire.

“No horsing around campfires,” he says. Please don’t be near it under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  Keep children away from campfires or bonfires. It’s very easy to trip or fall into a campfire.”

Learn more about what to do during an injury and other fireworks and fire safety tips in video below or visit akronchildrens.org:

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