Leave Fireworks to the Experts
Summer is synonymous with barbecue, parades and fireworks. Safey Council advises everyone to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not to use any fireworks at home. They may be legal, but they are not safe.
Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires each year, including 1,380 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and nearly 17,000 other fires.
If You Choose to Use Legal Fireworks
If consumer fireworks are legal to buy where you live and choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips:
- Never allow young children to handle fireworks
- Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
- Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
- Never use lighted fireworks in your hands
- Never light them indoors
- Only use them away from people, house and flammable material
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person
- Never ignite devices in a container
- Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
- Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
- Keep a bucket of water nearby to to fully extinguish fireworks that do not go off or in case of fire.
- Never use illegal fireworks
Let the experts handle the fireworks show.
Sparklers Are Dangerous
Every year, young children can be found along parade routes and at festivals with sparklers in hand, but sparklers are a lot more dangerous than most people think.
Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees-hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association. sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for firework injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.