It’s that time of the year again… firework season! While fireworks are a fun summer tradition, fireworks have led to a heavy amount of summer injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 10,000 firework-related injuries were treated in emergency rooms in the U.S. last year, including 11 firework-related deaths. There are many precautions that should be taken when it comes to keeping yourself and others safe while setting them off. Here are some helpful tips to keep your summer gatherings safe:
- Close adult supervision is required for older children and their handling of fireworks.
- Younger children shouldn’t be in close contact with fireworks.
- Never use fireworks under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Never light fireworks indoors or in the close presence of other people, buildings, or flammable material.
- Make sure that everyone in the close proximity of the fireworks are wearing protective eyewear, and that they aren’t directly pointed at anyone.
- If a firework doesn’t light the first time, do not try to re-light it.
- For extra precautions, keep a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher handy in case of fire.
These precautions include sparklers too. While some may assume that sparklers are “less dangerous”, sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees. Sparklers can ignite clothing and cause severe burns, especially with younger children, so please practice safety this summer and enjoy your fireworks responsibly.