Michigan loosened up restrictions on fireworks ten years ago and since then injuries from fireworks has doubled.

I have been lighting fireworks, bottle rockets, m-80s, you name it since I was a kid and I've been pretty lucky only getting a couple lighter burns and one quick fuse with a firecracker has my hand burning for a week. Other than that, I still have all my fingers, toes and eyebrows.

Well that is not the case for many Michiganders according to a new study from Michigan Medicine.

According to FOX 17, 10 years ago the Michigan Legislature changed the law that allowed residents to launch their own fireworks displays in their own backyard. That was a fancy way of saying people could shoot off their own mortar's.

I lived in Indiana for 18 years and you could buy any kind of firework known to man there. I used to drive down there or Ohio back in the day before you could get mortars here in Michigan. Once you fire off a mortar, there's no going back to sparklers, firecrackers and snakes.

The problem with mortars, if something goes wrong, it goes really wrong. From personal injuries to fires, you name it. Not to mention people who are lighting fireworks under the influence or tying fuses together or go to pick up something that didn't go off only to have it go off after you grab it.

If you don't believe me, go to YouTube and type, "when fireworks go bad." There is an endless list of fireworks fails.

This new study showed that when the fireworks laws in Michigan loosened up the restrictions of fireworks, patients going to hospitals doubled.

Just recently in Michigan the Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks was killed during the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Plus there was a local fireworks display in a Detroit neighborhood that went wrong. Not sure if anyone was hurt but wouldn't be surprised if there were once I saw the video.

Mortars are definitely the leading cause of injury according to the study that was done in Michigan. The real problem is kids under 18 years of age getting their hands on these, they have led to 40% of the injuries alone.

Some people have lost an eye, others have lost most of their site in either one or both eyes, not to mention fingers being amputated and even causing traumatic brain injuries.

More than 80% of the patients arrived at U-M in June or July, with 62% coming within the two weeks surrounding July 4. Forty percent were under age 18.

Hopefully this trend starts to go back the other way or people being able to light their own fireworks could go away someday and only be left to the pro's.

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