A sparkler is a type of hand-held firework that burns slowly while emitting colored flames, sparks, and effects.
The "classic" type of sparkler consists of a thin metal rod approximately one foot long that has been dipped in a thick batter of pyrotechnic composition and allowed to dry. This composition is rich in a metallic fuel such as aluminum or iron, which when burned creates silver or gold sparks, respectively.
A more modern type of sparkler, known as the "Morning Glory", consists of a long, thin paper tube filled with composition and attached to a wooden rod using brightly-colored tissue paper and ribbon. Several different compositions can be packed into a single tube, resulting in a sparkler that changes color.
Sparklers, while seemingly innocuous, are responsible for the vast majority of legal firework-related injuries, mainly as a result of parents giving sparklers to young children. The devices burn at a high temperature (thousands of degrees Fahrenheit), which can cause devastating burns to small hands and faces. Sparklers should only be used under careful adult supervision.
