Fireworks during the 4th of July are part of the American tradition. Unfortunately, thousands of people (mostly children and teens) are injured while using consumer fireworks.

In 2017, Denver Health Paramedics responded to 344 calls on the 4th of July, according to Lt. Julia Arellano. The typical calls are for alcohol intoxication, unconsciousness, falls and traffic accidents, but fireworks injuries are top of mind.

Nationwide, more than 11,000 people are injured by consumer fireworks and 25 percent of those injuries come from sparklers.

Concussions in sports, whether mild or serious, must all be taken seriously. Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow or jolt to the head or to the body, causing the brain to shake within the skull. The impact does not have to be directly to the skull; it can be to the upper body or part of the head. Concussions can affect the way the brain normally works. These changes can happen over hours or days, which explains why often the player might not seem so bad immediately after getting hit.