Protecting Your Hands and Healing Smarter After July 4th Accidents

Every year, thousands of people experience injuries from fireworks, most commonly to the hands, face, or arms. While we all love a good July 4th celebration, firework safety is essential to avoid burns, fractures, and soft tissue damage. But when accidents do happen, physical therapy (PT) can play a critical role in helping individuals recover function and regain independence.

Common Firework-Related Injuries

Fireworks can lead to a range of injuries, but the most frequent ones seen in outpatient PT clinics include:

• Hand and wrist burns or fractures
• Finger amputations or tendon injuries
• Facial and neck trauma
• Shoulder or arm damage from blast impact or falls

These injuries don’t just affect mobility—they impact everyday activities like writing, dressing, cooking, or returning to work. That’s where a skilled physical therapist or hand therapist comes in.

How PT Supports Firework Injury Recovery

Physical therapy focuses on restoring function, managing pain, and helping patients regain independence after an injury. For firework-related injuries, your PT plan may include:

1. Scar and Wound Management
PTs and Certified Hand Therapists can use manual therapy, desensitization techniques, and specialized splints to reduce scar formation, improve skin mobility, and minimize discomfort.

2. Strength and Range of Motion Exercises
Once the wound has healed, targeted exercises help restore mobility in affected joints—especially critical for hands, wrists, and elbows.

3. Sensory Re-education
If nerve damage has occurred, PT can include exercises to help the brain relearn how to interpret sensory signals—helping with numbness or hypersensitivity.

4. Adaptive Tools and Functional Retraining
PTs can introduce tools or modifications to daily tasks so patients can return to cooking, grooming, working, and other important routines safely and confidently.

Don’t Delay Rehab After an Injury

Early intervention is key. Delaying therapy after a firework injury can lead to stiffness, long-term weakness, or reduced range of motion. Starting PT as soon as your physician clears you helps improve outcomes and reduce recovery time.

Stay Safe This July 4th

Avoid relighting “duds,” keep children and pets at a safe distance, and never hold fireworks in your hand. If an accident does happen, know that physical therapy can help support a full recovery—getting you back to doing what you love.