How Riverdale residents can celebrate a safe Fourth of July

Independence Day is approaching fast, and while it’s tempting to carelessly hold a cold drink in one hand and a sparkler in the other, staying safe is as important for Riverdale residents as enjoying the holiday.

The New York City Health Department reported 45 fireworks-related emergency department visits in 2024, two-thirds of which happened on July 4 and surrounding days. Males suffered more injuries, making up 73 percent of the total visits, as did 15 to 24-year-olds, making up one third of the visits, the department found.

Health isn’t the only thing at risk. For those celebrating in the neighborhood, and across the city, possessing or using fireworks is illegal, and is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment of six months, or both, according to the New York City Fire Department.

Here are a few tips to ensure local residents are able to celebrate their country’s anniversary safely and securely.

Leave fireworks to the professionals

The fire department advises the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public show put on by professionals. Riverdale residents can make a trip to the iconic Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks — celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — with views available on TV, as well as in person from the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Hudson River.

Nationwide, safety faults have been fatal. In 2025, there were 15 reported fireworks-related deaths, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found, mostly from misfiring devices or malfunctions. Emergency rooms treated about 1,300 injuries involving sparklers that year, the commission added. Similar to New York’s 2024 incidents, 15 to 24-year-olds accounted for the largest share of injuries, especially hurting the hands, fingers, head, face and ears, the commission reported.

Sparklers aren’t as harmless as they seem

The bright, crackling warmth of a sparkler might appear safe for children, the fire department said, but they are not. Sparklers can reach between 1,200 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, enough to melt gold or cause serious burns, the department said.

Fire officials advise that children be supervised, sparklers only be used outdoors in open areas and those using the sparklers wear closed-toe shoes and avoid loose-fitting clothes. The department also suggests having a bucket of water or hose nearby to extinguish sparklers, and remaining cautious if it is windy outside.

Ed Green, chair of the Bronx Community Board 8’s Public Safety Committee, heeded similar warnings.

“You want to keep an eye on kids always — if they’re near fireworks or sprinklers, or even cooking grills for that matter — because little kids tend to roam and run around,” Green told The Press.

Stay alive, don’t drink and drive

When it comes to drunk driving, the National Safety Council estimated there could be 410 deaths on U.S. roads this 4th of July. This number was sourced from comparing the length of this year’s holiday period to last year’s, when there were 437 traffic-related deaths.

Green said this is the main thing to be aware of come Independence Day. To be arrested for driving while intoxicated, a person has to blow a 0.8 blood alcohol content into a breathalyzer. The amount of drinks to reach this point varies based on weight, metabolism and other factors. But, reaching a dangerous level of intoxication can be easier than it seems, and the consequences can be devastating.

“You’re going to wind up in handcuffs,” Green said. “And worse than that,  you can kill somebody’s whole family. We hear it all the time.”

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, punishment for alcohol or drug-related violations can include up to seven years in prison and $10,000 in fines.