Firework Safety Tips

Posted on July 1, 2019 Personal Injury

With Fourth of July just around the corner, many of us will celebrate with our family and friends. A lot of these celebrations include fireworks, and who doesn’t love fireworks on the Fourth of July? They are the perfect addition to any celebration and are considered a staple in Independence Day celebrations.

However, it is essential to make sure we’re celebrating safety, too. Fireworks-related injuries are the most common on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July. Two hundred eighty people on average go to the emergency department every day in the month around the Fourth of July holiday.

Fireworks can cause injuries, including burns, cuts, foreign objects in the eye and death. Choose to protect yourself and your family from fireworks injuries by following these tips:

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before lighting them.
• Never allow young children to ignite or play with fireworks, INCLUDING sparklers. They can burn at temperatures of 2,000 degrees – similar to a blow torch.
• Avoid fireworks that are not labeled as they may be intended only for professionals.
• Keep a garden hose or bucket of water close by in case of accidents.
• Never drink alcohol and light fireworks.
• Light fireworks one at a time.
• Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting the firework.
• Never re-light or pick up fireworks that did not fully ignite.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Douse the used fireworks before discarding to ensure you do not cause a fire in your garbage can.

Better yet, grab a blanket and a patch of lawn, kick back and let the experts handle the fireworks show.

Always remember, if a firework injures you, call a doctor immediately or visit your local emergency room.