(WSVN) - At least five people in South Florida were reportedly injured from a fireworks blast during their Fourth of July celebration.
On Thursday at approximately 9:50 p.m., near 300 E Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, an 18-year-old was playing with fireworks when it unexpectedly went off.
The teen suffered burns to parts of his body and was transported by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue as a precautionary trauma alert to Broward Health Medical Center. The young man had non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover.
Another teen was injured on Fort Lauderdale Beach after allegedly bringing his own fireworks to a professional show. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Chief Michael Kane said going to a professional fireworks show is the only way to watch fireworks safely.
“The best advice is to go out and enjoy the fireworks at a presentation provided by your local city,” he said.
Just after 11 p.m., first responders were sent to 1941 SW 48th Avenue in West Park, where a 16-year-old male had a firecracker go off in his hand. He was transported to the same hospital as a trauma alert, and as a result of the firecracker exploding in his hand, he lost several fingers.
“And the force of the explosion caused a partial amputation of his hand,” said Kane.
Another teen was injured in Deerfield Beach also losing part of his hand while handling a lit firework.
“The mortar exploded and unfortunately, it caused a partial amputation to his hand,” said Kane.
Also at West Park, one woman told 7News that a firework flew through her back window and broke the glass.
“I literally thought that there was a bomb coming through my house and I just dropped to the floor and covered my face,” said the woman.
Nearly an hour later, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue arrived on the scene at 277 SW 2nd Court in Deerfield Beach, where a teenage male around the ages of 16 and 19- year-old had a homemade PVC pipe mortar launcher explode in his hands. He had significant injuries to his hand and was also rushed to Broward Health Medical Center as a trauma alert.
In Miami Gardens, a teen is recovering in the hospital after a firework blew up near him.
“That one little faulty one, that was it, everything else was smooth,” said a man.
Kane and local leaders continue to warn the public every year the dangers with handling fireworks and teach fireworks safety.
Despite fireworks safety reminders issued annually, according to data analysis conducted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission surrounding the 2023 holiday, teenagers ages 15 to 19 years of age had the highest estimated rate of emergency department-treated fireworks-related injuries, with children ages 5 to 9-years-old following closely behind with the second highest rate.
“Every year someone get injured by these fireworks and I was praying I said, “Lord I hope nobody don’t hurt themselves this year,'” said a woman.
Roughly 9,700 people were treated at the ER for fireworks injuries in the U.S. in 2023 and a total of eight people died, according to the report.
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