Ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, officials with the Broward County Fire Academy are warning of the potential dangers of fireworks.
The demonstration, conducted Monday morning in Davie, brought to life the possible consequences of handling/using illegal fireworks and improper use of legal sparklers.
Mannequins and melons were used during the tests. Officials showed the effects of low-powered, commercial fireworks and how they can cause serious harm, including loss of limbs.
Each year, fireworks are responsible for starting an average of 18,500 fires, including:
- 1,300 structure fires
- 300 vehicle fires
- 16,900 outside fires (among others)
These fires cause an average of three deaths every year, 40 civilian injuries, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage.
In 2017, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 12,900 people for fireworks related injuries; 54 percent of which were to the extremities and 36 percent to the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third of the estimated 2017 fireworks injuries.
Officials remind citizens to be safe -- go to a public fireworks display put on by experts as opposed to creating your own "show."