During firework season in the UK (October–January), many patients present to emergency departments across the country with firework-related injuries. These seasonal injuries can vary from minor skin trauma to major burns, inhalation injuries and even death in some cases. Governments have tried to improve public awareness and safety with education using multi-million pound national safety campaigns as well as clamping down on fireworks both from within and outside of the EU which fail to meet safety standards. Despite these measures, firework-related injuries are increasing (2005 census Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)). Reasons for this have been cited as new variations in firework design, antisocial behaviour and readily available cheap fireworks. The author conducted a retrospective study in the emergency department in Exeter from October 2006 to January 2007 highlighting 18 firework-related injuries. Of those, four patients needed referral to local burns centres and five needed admission for supportive treatment and specialty management. Prevention of firework injuries to the hand is of the utmost importance. It is hoped that an increase in public awareness will concentrate attention on precautionary measures to prevent these avoidable ‘recreational’ accidents. If and when accidents do occur, hand surgeons and therapists attempt to provide patients with the best possible return of hand function with a minimum disability and disfigurement. Further research together with national awareness is suggested to reduce these injuries, all for a tradition which can cost millions in healthcare and loss of earnings, but ultimately, it can cost peoples’ lives.