The Fourth of July is almost upon us — a time for family picnics and fireworks displays. Yet all too often, the public fails to consider the harsh consequences when amateurs play with fireworks. In the wrong hands, fireworks can lead to property damage, personal injury — even death.   “In San Diego County, fireworks are not only dangerous but also illegal,” said James Floros, Burn Institute executive director/chief executive officer. Floros points to the thousands, nationwide, who are injured each year from fireworks — particularly children. More than two-thirds of all fireworks-related injuries occur between June 16 and July 16, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2006, the center reported that 11 people were killed and approximately 9,200 were treated in emergency rooms from fireworks-related injuries in the U.S. One out of every three injured were children younger than 15 years, with three times as many males as females injured. Those directly participating in fireworks-related activities were “more frequently and severely injured than bystanders.”     All unlicensed fireworks in San Diego County are illegal. No exceptions! This includes everything from poppers and sparklers to firecrackers and bottle rockets. If you are caught with fireworks, you can be fined; if you’re an adult providing fireworks to minors, the penalty can be much more severe. Bottle rockets may seem harmless, but did you know that they generate enough heat to set a roof on fire? One bottle rocket can set off a devastating fire that can potentially destroy homes, perhaps entire neighborhoods — at the worst, take a life. And while sparklers may seem harmless, they are responsible for most injuries to children younger than 10 years of age and account for one-third of the injuries to those 5 years old and younger. Children, often fascinated by the bright sparks, may grab the hot end of the sparkler, where the temperature can reach 1,800 degrees. It only takes a moment for a sparkler to ignite a child’s clothing, causing a devastating burn injury — possibly death.  Public fireworks displays conducted by trained professionals are the smartest and safest way to enjoy fireworks because they are conducted in a controlled setting according to established regulations. As a public service to the community, the Burn Institute has compiled a list of licensed fireworks shows throughout San Diego County. The list is published online at www.burninstitute.org.   — The Burn Institute is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to reducing the number of burn injuries and deaths in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties through fire and burn prevention education, burn care research and treatment and burn survivor support services.