Suffolk Police Warn Of Illegal Fireworks Dangers
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Suffolk County police say fireworks are not only illegal to set off in your backyard, they're also very dangerous.
As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, we hear about this every year: someone loses a finger or suffers severe burns because they were setting off illegal fireworks in the backyards of homes.
Suffolk County police are urging residents to leave the fireworks to the professionals.
"Five-thousand individuals nationwide wind up in emergency rooms for injuries as a result of those fireworks. More than half of these injuries involve burns; burns to the hands, to the face, and to the head," said Chief John Meehan. "And about a thousand of the reported injuries involve the use of bottle rockets and sparklers."
Meehan also said many of the people who go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries are under the age of 15.
Authorities said they will have zero tolerance for those who are possessing or setting off fireworks this weekend.