SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- With Independence Day less than two weeks away, a Baystate Health doctor is warning residents about the dangers of setting off fireworks.

Fireworks are illegal to possess or set off in Massachusetts and those who do face both legal consequences and the risk of serious injury. “Fireworks can be dangerous in and of themselves. We see anything from minor injuries, like burns to hands to face, all the way up to severe injuries, like vision threatening (or) injuries to the eye,” said Dr. Seth Gemme, chair of emergency medicine at Baystate Health.

There is also the risk of severe traumatic injuries, including amputations. He said not being an expert in how to use fireworks and getting too close are risks no one should take. “It (an injury) is usually a result of something going awry. They’re lighting, they’re playing with fire, (and) they’re essentially explosive,” Gemme explained.

Recovery times depend on the injury. Hand and facial burns can take days to weeks to heal. Amputations to the fingers and hands can require months of rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Gemme said the weeks leading up to July 4th are when Baystate prepares for fireworks-related injuries. Last year, several people ended up in the emergency room. “We had a few severe injuries that required inpatient hospitalization, but luckily, around this area, probably due to the legality of the fireworks, we may see less than other states where it is legal,” he noted.

Gemme’s advice is straightforward. “The best thing to do to prevent any of these injuries are to stick to watching them instead of lighting them,” he said.

Copyright 2026 Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.