Fireworks are synonymous with summer celebrations, but before you focus on the fun, there are some serious safety concerns to consider. Burns, bodily injury, and property damage can easily occur, so we urge you to keep the following in mind:
- Never allow children to play with or light fireworks.
- Always have an adult supervising fireworks activities – even sparklers can burn at a temperature of about 2,000 degrees which can result in serious burns.
- Read the labels and performance descriptions of each firework before use.
- Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.
- Never place any part of your body over a firework when lighting the fuse and back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting.
- Wear safety glasses when lighting fireworks.
- Never try to relight a dud firework.
- Light one firework at a time.
- Only use fireworks outdoors in clear areas away from buildings, vehicles and people.
- Always have a bucket of water or garden hose nearby in case of fire.
- Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers.
- Dispose of spent fireworks by dousing them with water and placing in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials.
- Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
- Remember, animals can be sensitive to loud noises and can become extremely frightened or stressed when fireworks are in use. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk of them running away or becoming injured.
Also, before use, check if fireworks are legal where you live and familiarize yourself with any local ordinances to ensure obeying the law.