JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man warned others about the dangers of fireworks, one day after an explosion injured both of his hands, leaving one severely damaged.
Zion Thomas was one of several people injured by fireworks on the Fourth of July. He spoke to News4JAX from his hospital bed in Gainesville.
Thomas said the fireworks may have been expired.
“It makes me feel like I need to pay attention more to things like that. I’m thinking hey, just like anybody else, it’s a firework. It’s going to be okay, but turns out I was not,” Thomas said.
Jacksonville Fire Department Capt. Eric Prosswimmer told us they responded to Thomas’ home and others.
“We definitely had calls. I know a few of those calls people took were of serious injuries as a result of fireworks,” Prosswimmer said.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2023, 9,700 people went to the hospital after being injured by fireworks, and 35% of them suffered injuries on their hands.
Tragically, eight people died last year from injuries related to fireworks.
Prosswimmer said people lighting off their leftover fireworks should be extra careful, and don’t hold them in their hands.
“I almost lost my hand basically. My front teeth are chipped. My wrist is broken. My other hand, my palm is fractured. So it’s pretty serious and it came from fireworks,” Thomas said.