About 15,000 Americans are injured each year from fireworks during the month surrounding the Fourth of July, and young people under age 20 account for nearly half of them, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says. Among the most serious injuries: bad burns, blindness, loss of fingers and permanent scarring.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sparklers, which unlike regular fireworks, are legal in Pennsylvania, are associated with more than half of all fireworks-related injuries for children under 5.

"Each year we see a handful of children who come into Children's Hospital [of Pittsburgh] with injuries ranging from burns to loss of eyesight or fingers because they were playing with fireworks," Dr. Barbara A. Gaines, director of the Benedum Pediatric Trauma Program at Children's, said in a news release.

"It's terrible because these often are permanent and disfiguring injuries that could easily be prevented with parental supervision."

A safe way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a professional event controlled by trained staff, Dr. Gaines said. Also be sure to stay at a safe distance within designated barriers.

Children's offers these safety tips where fireworks are legal:

• Children should never light fireworks.

• Forbid horseplay and keep bystanders at a safe distance.

• Read all instructions carefully before lighting fireworks.

• Fireworks should never be lit in a container.

• Do not re-light malfunctioning fireworks.

• Keep flammable liquids away from fireworks.

• Fireworks must be lit outdoors by trained professionals.

• Keep a bucket of water near for use in an emergency.