Doctors warn people to play it safe this Fourth of July

Illegal fireworks
A display of illegal fireworks. Safety officials are most concerned about fireworks that explode or shoot into the air. Those kinds of fireworks are illegal in Minnesota.
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Despite all the warnings, doctors say some people will mishandle fireworks this Fourth of July and pay the price.

Dr. William Mohr heads the Burn Center at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. He says many of the victims will be children.

"About half of all victims of fireworks related injuries are children 15-years-old and younger. Things like small firecrackers, bottle rockets and sparklers are the overwhelming majority of kid injuries."

Mohr says the safest fireworks are those shot off by professionals at organized events. He says spectators are kept well away from the danger zone, and they can enjoy the spectacle without worrying about injuries.

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