Jason Pierre-Paul is putting his negative experience to good use as America prepares to celebrate its birthday.
Last Fourth of July, the Giants defensive end nearly lost his hand in a fireworks incident. This year, not only is he steering clear of fireworks, but he's trying to help others do the same by appearing in a public safety announcement.
The ad opens up with the Super Bowl XLVI champion talking about the incident last year and encouraging others to leave handling fireworks to the professionals.
"So on the Fourth of July I lit up a firework," Pierre-Paul says in the ad. "I thought I could throw it away real quick and in a split second it blew off my whole hand. On the way to the hospital, all I could do is think about my son and whether I [was] gonna make it. Now, I'm just truly blessed to be alive. When I look at fireworks, I think about the safety."
The ad is using the hashtag #FireworksHurt to get the message across and Pierre-Paul goes over instructions for fireworks safety, concluding that regular people shouldn't use them.
Shortly after signing a one-year deal with the Giants prior to last season, the incident occurred and the two-time Pro Bowler had to get his index finger amputated. The injury cost him eight games in the 2015 season as he only appeared in half of the Giants' contests during the season.
The 27-year-old recorded one sack and 21 tackles for New York last season while playing with his hand heavily wrapped like a club. Throughout his six seasons -- all with the Giants -- the defensive end has 43 sacks, 226 tackles, two interceptions and two touchdowns.
Pierre-Paul recently revealed the gruesome details about the incident, but was in positive spirits since it could have been even worse -- possibly even life-threatening.
"You see all your ligaments, your tendons, everything," Pierre-Paul told Sports Illustrated. "I saw how the hand really is without skin on it. I could dwell on it, like, 'Damn, I wish I had that finger, but when I look in the mirror, I'm happy. Thank the Lord -- it could have been worse."
Pierre-Paul isn't just blowing smoke, he intends to stay away from fireworks this 4th of July and won't even be in the country, according to a tweet last month from the Daily News' Ralph Vacchiano:
Jason Pierre-Paul on his 4th of July plans: "I won't even be in the United States. Where I'm going, they don't celebrate 4th of July."
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) June 6, 2016
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