Every year people across the country set off their own fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July. Most never imagine that they or their children will be injured.

According to this article, in 2007, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks related injuries.

* 56% of the injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head.

* 49% of the 2006 fireworks injuries were burns, while 29% were contusions and lacerations.

*Nearly half of the victims of fireworks in 2007 were under the age of 15. The risk of fireworks injury was nearly two-and-a-half times as high for children ages 10-14 as for the general population.

*Sparklers, fountains, and novelties alone accounted for 25% of all emergency room fireworks injuries in 2005.

*On Independence Day in a typical year, more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day, and fireworks account for half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.

*Fireworks caused an estimated 1,700 total structure fires and 600 vehicle fires reported to fire departments in 2005. These fires resulted in $34 million in direct property damage.

*More fires are reported on a typical Fourth of July than on any other day of the year and fireworks account for half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.

If you are going to have personal fireworks, please be safe. But maybe they are something best left to the professionals.