answer:This is a really great question. My experience with sparklers is similar to yours…none of the sparks ever burned my bare hands. So why the fuss? A quick internet search provided some insightful information. Fireworks in general are dangerous, as most people know. In the US, there are more injuries caused by sparklers than other forms of fireworks. Here are some statistics found on a fact sheet from the National Fire Protection Association. * Over three out of five (62%) of the 2013 fireworks injuries were burns, while just over one-fifth (22%) were contusions or lacerations. * Two out of five (40%) people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15. * Males accounted for three-fifths (57%) of the injuries. * The risk of fireworks injury was highest for the 0–4 age group, followed by children 10 to 14 years of age. * Sparklers alone accounted for 41% of the emergency room fireworks injuries in 2013. Sparklers accounted for four out of five (79%) of the injuries to children under five. So what makes sparklers the most common firework to cause injury? The obvious reason is that they are legal in most states, so they are the most commonly used. Because they are legal, they seem, on the surface, harmless. A single spark can cause a burn, but unless it makes contact with the eye, it is unlikely to cause damage other than a very brief sting. Both can be be prevented by wearing gloves (or the cup mentioned) and keeping the sparkler away from eyes. The greater cause of burns comes from what you experienced; picking up a metal sparkler stick immediately after it had burned out. The bottom line is that some parents seem to have a false sense of security when it comes to using sparklers. It is often the children who end up paying the price.