The Surprising Firework That Sends the Most People to the ER In Texas

I certainly don't want to put a damper on your 4th of July activities—I just want to give you a heads-up that some things aren't as harmless as they seem.

You’ll get no preaching about fireworks from me. I’ve probably done every bad thing you can do with fireworks, so I don’t have much room to talk. And I’m not here to lecture you about stuff you’d rather ignore. Let's just protect Texas kids.

What I do think we should address is one of the most dangerous fireworks. And by "most dangerous," I mean the ones most likely to hurt someone.

Surprisingly, it’s not a rocket, a mortar, or a Roman candle—it’s the humble sparkler.

Sparklers seem like one of the more innocent fireworks, but they alternate with firecrackers as the leading cause of fireworks-related injuries.

That’s right. Some towns will ban nearly every type of firework, yet still allow sparklers. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it.

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Some sparklers burn at up to 2,000 degrees. And who’s most likely to be holding them? Children. That’s where things get especially risky.

The sparks can easily catch clothing on fire. And let’s not forget—the leftover metal wire stays dangerously hot long after the spark is gone.

Sparklers are so dangerous that the Consumer Product Safety Commission actually recommends that children never handle them—or any fireworks, for that matter.

So again, I’m not here to preach. But if you’re lighting fireworks this year, your best move is to keep a bucket of water nearby. Use it to douse hot sparklers, dead fireworks, or even in case of an emergency.