WARNING! Photo Of Wisconsin Man’s Hand After Firecracker Injury

This fire department x-ray photo of a Wisconsin man's hand is shocking. It's exactly why you should always be careful when playing with fireworks. How could any surgeon fix this mangled hand?

How To Avoid Fireworks-Related Emergency Room Trips

Don't screw around with them AT ALL is a terrific way to avoid injuries like the one you're about to see.

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I don't know the backstory here, but often it can be assumed that booze mixed with a "Won't happen to me! attitude will quickly put your bloody stump that was once a hand in front of a trauma surgeon.

According to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 10,200 firework-related injuries resulting in hospital treatment in 2022. That number included 11 deaths.

This report even breaks down the injuries according to the type of fireworks that caused them, including the most injured body parts.

• Trunk or other - 12%
• Eyes - 16%
• Head, face, and ears - 19%
• Legs - 19%
• Hands and fingers - 29%

Fireworks That Are LEGAL In Wisconsin

Most fireworks that don't go boom or leave the ground are OK without a permit. That includes smoke bombs, cones, fountains, caps, confetti poppers and, you guessed it, snakes and sparklers.

Fireworks That Are ILLEGAL In Wisconsin

Possessing or using any other fireworks, including, for example, firecrackers, Roman candles, bottle rockets, and mortars, is illegal in Wisconsin without a valid permit.

The explosive firework that caused the injury you're about to see is an M-80.

What's an M-80?

These are powerful firecrackers with around 3,000 mg of explosives. A regular firecracker is around 50 mg, which by law is as much as is allowed for on-the-ground consumer use.

The La Crosse, Wisconsin Fire Department shared a photo of what your hand will look like if one of them goes off in or very near your hand. The 3,000 mg of explosives in an M-80 will do some serious damage.

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M80s are illegal in the State of Wisconsin without a permit, per State Statute 167.10. If it leaves the ground or explodes, it's illegal. The "permit" you might get from the guy at the stand up tent is useless if you want to shoot off your fireworks. That permit merely allows you to possess the fireworks, but doesn't allow you to shoot them off.

The fireworks laws in Illinois are even more strict.