The Fourth of July tends to be a busy time for emergency departments across the country. Last year, firework-related injuries and deaths spiked amid the pandemic with at least 18 deaths and about 15,600 injuries treated in emergency departments, according to a report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

KCTV talked to Dr. Marc Larsen, emergency medicine physician at Saint Luke's, about what injuries doctors see most and how to stay safe while celebrating the holiday.

Watch the full story below.

Dr. Larsen explains which fireworks are safer to handle.