"There are no safe fireworks," says Doug Carlson, MD, pediatric emergency physician at St. Louis Children's Hospital. "Even the simple ones like sparklers can cause severe burns to young children if they're not supervised."

Sparklers tend to be most dangerous after they've been discarded, when a curious child reaches for it when it's still hot -- and sparklers can get up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Sparkers look safer than those things that explode and shoot up into the air. And people think it's nice to put a sparkler on a birthday cake or something, but they are very hot and if you get hit with a flying spark, it's going to burn you just as much as anything more projectile.?Three-thousand children are injured by fireworks each year - mostly during the month of July. Dr. Carlson says those injuries can range from burns to the face, hands or feet, to serious wounds to the eyes.

“It seems every year we see kids in the emergency room that got hit in the eye with a bottle rocket," says Dr. Carlson. "Supervision is the key message, and common sense. When it comes to which fireworks are safe to use at home, the short answer is 'none.'?
Most injuries occur when adults allow children to ignite fireworks. Doctors strongly suggest enjoying fireworks at public displays. But for families who plan home-use, it's recommended that responsible adults, not children, light the fireworks in an open area with bystanders at a safe distance.

“If you really feel that you have to light your own fireworks at home, I'd recommend doing it in an open area, on blacktop or a street rather than on grass or a driveway, or close to somebody's home," says Dr. Carlson. "I recommend having the kids out of the way, not having the kids igniting the fireworks, having them stand back so they can watch but not really participate in lighting the things.?The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends the following tips, if you do decide to set fireworks off on your own:

* Make sure fireworks are legal in your area.

* Read and follow all warnings and instructions.

* A responsible adult should closely supervise all fireworks activities.

* Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

* Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

* Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

* Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.

* Light one item at a time, then move back quickly.

* Never try to re-light fireworks that have not fully functioned.

* Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them in metal or glass containers.

* Keep a bucket of water or a hose handy in case of a malfunction or fire.