July 4th is a popular time for barbecues and
picnics all in the name of celebrating the United States’ independence from
England way back in 1776. And of course, no July 4th gathering is
complete without fireworks. But
remember—they can be extremely dangerous if not handled and set off properly.
According to the
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 230 people go
to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month
leading up to July 4th. More than 50% of their injuries are burns,
with 36% of those injuries on the hands or fingers.
The National Council on Fireworks Safety recommends these
tips for using fireworks safely:
- Always designate a responsible adult to supervise any firework activities. Children should never handle or ignite fireworks.
- Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save the drinks until after the fireworks are over.
- Always set off fireworks outdoors in an open area, away from buildings, people, and vehicles. Keep a bucket of water and hose nearby.
- Never try to relight a “dud” firework.
- Wear the proper safety equipment.
- Don’t experiment with homemade fireworks; leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals.
- Many children light sparklers, but they pose their own dangers. Make sure the correct end is lit, dispose of spent sparklers in a bucket of water, and do not pick up a sparkler that is in the bucket.
- Do not set off any fireworks near pets.
- If you’re planning to set off fireworks at a backyard picnic, make sure your pet is in a safe room inside the house to minimize their exposure to the sound.
- Make sure your pets are wearing their ID tags in case they escape during a fireworks display.
Visit fireworkssafety.org for a complete list of tips and
other information on fireworks safety.
Do you light
fireworks on July 4th? Would you add any other safety tips to this list? We’d
love to hear from you in the comments below!
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