New York man loses hand and finger in fireworks accident: police

BRENTWOOD, NY (PIX11) — A man was seriously injured in a fireworks incident on Long Island Saturday night, according to police.

Barry Nelson, 66, was in his front yard on Eastern Avenue in Brentwood when a firework exploded around 9 p.m., according to police. The firework severed his left hand and three fingers on his right hand, police said.

According to authorities, Nelson was taken to the hospital to treat his injuries.

How to protect yourself, your family and friends near fireworks:

• Never light fireworks after consuming alcohol, taking illegal drugs or medications that may impair your judgment.
• Keep a bucket of water, a hose or a fire extinguisher near the area where you will set off the fireworks in case of an accident.
• Never let small children handle fireworks.
• Keep an eye on children when using sparklers. Sparklers are the second leading cause of emergency medical admissions for fireworks and burn at 2,000°F – the same temperature as the flame of a blowtorch.
• Soak used and unused fireworks in a bucket of water for a few hours before throwing them away.
• When setting off fireworks, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes.
• Do not hold fireworks in your hand and do not place any part of your body directly over a firework.
• Never set off more than one firework at a time as this increases the risk of something going wrong.
• Never set off fireworks in or near buildings.
• Do not light fireworks near or at other people and keep a safe distance after lighting them.
• Keep your pets safe by keeping them indoors. It is also a good idea to close curtains and blinds and play background noises for distraction.

NewsNation affiliate WTAJ contributed to this report.