'I'm truly blessed to be alive.' Pro Football Player Recalls Fireworks Nightmare

06-30-2016
JPP

New York Giants Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul, also know as J.P.P., is baring all about a fireworks incident last year that literally blew-off part of his hand, but could have taken his life.

He's hoping to prevent the nightmare that changed his life from happening to someone else.

Every year, especially around the 4th of July, 12,000 people are rushed to the hospital after a fireworks mishap. Eleven of them die, 50 percent of the injuries are burns, 36 percent are to the hands, followed by the eyes (19 percent), head face and ears (19 percent), torso (11 percent), legs (10 percent) and arms (5 percent). 

In a new video released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the football star recalls lighting a professional-grade firework last 4th of July when the product malfunctioned. 

"I thought I could throw it away real quick. But in a split second it blew up my whole hands right there," he recalled.

In excruciating pain, J.P.P. was rushed to the emergency room, not knowing what would happen to him.

"On my way to the hospital all I could think about was my son, and was I going to make it?'"

Doctors were unable to save J.P.P's right index finger but his entire right hand is permanently damaged. In the video, J.P.P. shows closeups of his injuires as well as pictures from the hospital as a warning to those who might be considering lighting fireworks this holiday weekend.

"Now, I'm truly blessed to be alive," he says, "Now, when I look at fireworks, I think about safety."

The CPSC says no fireworks are safe for average citizens to light. Even sparklers can cause serious injury. 

"Sparklers are incredibly dangerous. They burn as hot as a blow torch," CPSC's Elliot Kaye told ABC.

So when you see those fireworks stands along the highway, J.P.P. would tell you to just keep on driving.

"Keep fireworks away from kids and leave fireworks to the fireworks professionals," he said.

Realistically, the CPSC understands there will be plenty of people who don't heed that advice and will choose to set-off their own fireworks.  They offer the following safety tips: 

1.  Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
2.  Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
3.  Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
4. Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. 5. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
6. Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
7. Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
8. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
9. Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
10. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
11. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
12. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

 

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