Fireworks are a great way to celebrate the holiday, but it’s essential to be safe to avoid injury. Unfortunately, there are more and more injuries every year, and many involve children getting hurt. To prevent this, we’ve got 11 safety tips to keep your family safe this year so that you can have fun!
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Always follow local laws and manufacturer instructions when handling fireworks.
Clean The Area
Any area where you’re setting off fireworks shouldn’t be near houses, brush, trees, or anything that’s easily flammable. The area should be clear of everything. This will ensure that you’re not starting a fire, you won’t damage someone’s property, and you won’t hurt yourself or your family.
Don’t Light A Lot
The more you light at once, the greater the danger because it’s easy to get confused and have them injure you. Instead, focus on one at a time and ensure that you’re not missing any vital steps and that you’re lighting them correctly. You should also maintain a safe distance after lighting them and be sure not to hover over them while doing so.
Alternatives
For children, consider alternatives to fireworks and sparklers. Try using streamers, silly string, a confetti cannon, or glow sticks instead. Sparklers can reach temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees, which is enough to melt metal. Imagine what that could do to your child. Your child should also never handle the fireworks themselves.
Legal Fireworks
To ensure your safety, verify that the fireworks are legal. For instance, M-80s, cherry bombs, and quarter sticks are all illegal and have caused massive injuries. You should also never make your own fireworks because you might not know what you’re doing, and you could hurt yourself. Another red flag is to avoid anything packed in brown paper; those are made for professional displays and are dangerous.
Pets
If you have fur babies, keep them inside. It’s for their own good. Fireworks are hazardous to pets and can be frightening for them as well. Animals are susceptible to loud noises, and the fireworks can cause issues like PTSD for pets. Make them comfortable inside while your family enjoys the holiday.
Eye Gear
When setting off fireworks, you and your children should wear protective gear. You might think it’s unnecessary, but people have lost their eyes in fireworks accidents, and it’s brutal and frightening. Protect yourself and your children by wearing safety glasses and keeping them on at all times to prevent sparks or debris from entering your eyes. Celebrating isn’t worth losing your sight.
Don’t Light Duds
If a firework doesn’t ignite, don’t force it to light in any way. Leave it alone and let it cool down. You should always have a bucket of water nearby to extinguish any malfunctioning fireworks or fires. When you have fireworks like this, let them cool off, then stick them in water and let them soak before discarding. Never relight a dud firework either.
Don’t Drink
One thing you should never do is light fireworks when you’ve been drinking or if you’ve consumed drugs. It’s dangerous and puts you and your children at unnecessary risk. Using either could impair your ability to assess risks and make the best decisions. It also reduces your motor skills and balance, meaning you could misfire and have slower reaction times.
Fire Extinguisher
We’ve already mentioned having a bucket of water, but you should also bring a fire extinguisher. When lighting the fireworks, designate a person to hold and use it in case something goes wrong. Fireworks can easily start fires, and they don’t always ignite as intended. If a fire starts, you may not be able to put it out with water.
The Pros
The best tip for staying safe on the Fourth of July is to leave it to the professionals. Attending a professional fireworks show is preferable because they’re safer and more impressive. Let your kids play with streamers and string so they feel like they’re part of the celebration, but leave the fireworks to the professionals who know how to handle them safely.
Have Fun!
It’s not hard to have fun during this holiday or to stay safe. You just have to know what you’re doing and how to keep your children in a secure environment. Through these tips, you’ll not only have fun but also keep your family safe, avoiding fires and burns. Have fun and enjoy the show!
